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 0.009 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]
02.6648763261894E-10
-0.52.1218593841427E-10
-11.8154692139384E-10
-1.51.6122742994916E-10
-21.4649042715596E-10
-2.51.3517332962688E-10
-31.2612979300341E-10
-3.51.1868809487442E-10
-41.1242510535485E-10
-4.51.0705927318882E-10
-51.023950161792E-10
-5.59.8291671259133E-11
-69.4645135637587E-11
-6.59.1376491599285E-11
-78.8424677980144E-11
-7.58.5741610105619E-11
-88.3288836667234E-11
-8.58.1035192399529E-11
-97.8955113986196E-11
-9.57.7027408530911E-11
-107.5234337546591E-11