Physics of Semiconductor Devices

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Capacitance-Voltage Characteristics

The capacitance of a pn junction depends on the width W of the depletion layer.

If the junction is heavily p-doped then it will be an asymmetric p+n junction where Na >> Nd. In this case the total depletion width is approximately equal to the depletion width on just the n-side of the junction.

To experimentally characterize a pn-junction, often the capacitance is measured as a function of the applied voltage. For an abrupt p+n junction, a plot of 1/Cj² versus V is a straight line. The formula can be determined from the above two equations. The slope and intercept of this line give the doping concentration and built-in potential.

The capacitance-voltage characteristic of a silicon p+n-junction with an area of 0.007 cm² is measured. The results of this measurement are shown in the table on the right.

What is the doping concentration and the built-in potential?

Nd = 1/cm³

Vbi = V

The dielectric constant of silicon is εr = 11.9.

     
voltage [V]  capacitance [F]
04.3627447261256E-10
-0.53.4757501047818E-10
-12.9746548948458E-10
-1.52.642125792346E-10
-22.400862829029E-10
-2.52.2155406679875E-10
-32.067421814903E-10
-3.51.9455216602989E-10
-41.8429184564962E-10
-4.51.7550052542381E-10
-51.6785811241411E-10
-5.51.6113435589307E-10
-61.551588262584E-10
-6.51.498023095722E-10
-71.4496481857361E-10
-7.51.4056760789041E-10
-81.3654770321402E-10
-8.51.3285405956234E-10
-91.2944480471025E-10
-9.51.262852231928E-10
-101.2334625667681E-10