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 0.006 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]
08.4628631293909E-11
-0.56.7125099541772E-11
-15.7330486378344E-11
-1.55.0861764416988E-11
-24.618202579785E-11
-2.54.2594350796653E-11
-33.973090850313E-11
-3.53.7376812388634E-11
-43.5397004990066E-11
-4.53.3701774559091E-11
-53.2228888045471E-11
-5.53.0933637778366E-11
-62.9782967265699E-11
-6.52.875183708368E-11
-72.7820886592184E-11
-7.52.6974878578139E-11
-82.6201634754756E-11
-8.52.5491288955595E-11
-92.4835751725859E-11
-9.52.4228319045948E-11
-102.3663381467944E-11