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 0.001 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]
01.7322924313692E-11
-0.51.3725856894288E-11
-11.1717480453295E-11
-1.51.0392544681565E-11
-29.4346726512177E-12
-2.58.7006588275739E-12
-38.1150066463618E-12
-3.57.6336464126573E-12
-47.2288965055689E-12
-4.56.8823778737479E-12
-56.5813456225837E-12
-5.56.3166466605099E-12
-66.0815149423164E-12
-6.55.8708264399552E-12
-75.680619933345E-12
-7.55.5077783470521E-12
-85.3498107085746E-12
-8.55.2046992133934E-12
-95.0707896021096E-12
-9.54.946711061736E-12
-104.831316691696E-12