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]
01.7191536802247E-11
-0.51.33887790436E-11
-11.1342067283696E-11
-1.51.0015809997957E-11
-29.0671750475674E-12
-2.58.3453959955383E-12
-37.7724282174677E-12
-3.57.3032890321604E-12
-46.9099867222832E-12
-4.56.5740698883572E-12
-56.282816582554E-12
-5.56.0271327387896E-12
-65.8003219564224E-12
-6.55.5973295207738E-12
-75.4142587235208E-12
-7.55.2480506768357E-12
-85.0962660820498E-12
-8.54.9569326807651E-12
-94.8284362349326E-12
-9.54.709441079434E-12
-104.5988312116532E-12