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 0.003 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]
05.921947391532E-11
-0.54.7152430758726E-11
-14.0343760309743E-11
-1.53.582831776648E-11
-23.2553428256881E-11
-2.53.0038517694863E-11
-32.8028842889646E-11
-3.52.6375132194315E-11
-42.4983356745521E-11
-4.52.3790949597515E-11
-52.2754448039822E-11
-5.52.1842593613141E-11
-62.1032252363908E-11
-6.52.0305887022063E-11
-71.9649928440032E-11
-7.51.9053691134582E-11
-81.8508630370497E-11
-8.51.8007820533229E-11
-91.7545580885821E-11
-9.51.7117201895758E-11
-101.671874167702E-11