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]
05.8987040164149E-11
-0.54.611113665603E-11
-13.9126166145871E-11
-1.53.4582757595125E-11
-23.1325685411103E-11
-2.52.884381959594E-11
-32.6871559349104E-11
-3.52.5255414587445E-11
-42.3899685764512E-11
-4.52.2741195848625E-11
-52.1736333552044E-11
-5.52.0853893985655E-11
-62.0070881067507E-11
-6.51.9369924690905E-11
-71.8737626403756E-11
-7.51.8163463261041E-11
-81.7639040115192E-11
-8.51.7157566583302E-11
-91.6713483028683E-11
-9.51.6302187849147E-11
-101.5919835162227E-11