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 0.004 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]
03.6830899927063E-11
-0.52.886528533981E-11
-12.4520504213292E-11
-1.52.1686975816702E-11
-21.9652503342926E-11
-2.51.8100639688352E-11
-31.6866509126889E-11
-3.51.5854654105823E-11
-41.5005476673115E-11
-4.51.4279591398734E-11
-51.3649787784639E-11
-5.51.3096582903805E-11
-61.2605610967974E-11
-6.51.2166015622435E-11
-71.1769419408443E-11
-7.51.1409240485281E-11
-81.1080226286236E-11
-8.51.0778127144345E-11
-91.0499462802691E-11
-9.51.0241352102517E-11
-101.0001386591884E-11