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 0.002 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]
01.7942171964542E-10
-0.51.4505590512574E-10
-11.2501164976247E-10
-1.51.114900134873E-10
-21.0158035135521E-10
-2.59.3916391359637E-11
-38.7760745018065E-11
-3.58.2675811018552E-11
-47.838331972832E-11
-4.57.4696748779593E-11
-57.1485768191582E-11
-5.56.8656194700026E-11
-66.613804595517E-11
-6.56.3878090628258E-11
-76.183502246271E-11
-7.55.9976231632683E-11
-85.8275583991099E-11
-8.55.6711856296416E-11
-95.5267610069467E-11
-9.55.3928365803573E-11
-105.2681987226444E-11