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 0.007 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]
02.2277828323424E-10
-0.51.7610714080755E-10
-11.5017903276748E-10
-1.51.3311662736927E-10
-21.2079969324208E-10
-2.51.1137073153388E-10
-31.03852996433E-10
-3.59.767735148476E-11
-49.248677725756E-11
-4.58.8044475282823E-11
-58.4186372166831E-11
-5.58.0794712436069E-11
-67.7782498306794E-11
-6.57.508387580269E-11
-77.2647955700226E-11
-7.57.0434707246152E-11
-86.8412150044604E-11
-8.56.6554385396455E-11
-96.4840185777884E-11
-9.56.3251964597875E-11
-106.1775010721471E-11