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 0.008 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]
07.223510887451E-10
-0.55.8267998419894E-10
-15.0161634032842E-10
-1.54.4707246647525E-10
-24.0716224074198E-10
-2.53.7632978273381E-10
-33.5158478231199E-10
-3.53.3115610213922E-10
-43.1391911906266E-10
-4.52.9912085781503E-10
-52.8623566332645E-10
-5.52.7488395134406E-10
-62.6478384838138E-10
-6.52.5572106276501E-10
-72.4752938403173E-10
-7.52.4007764615732E-10
-82.3326076611763E-10
-8.52.2699343299356E-10
-92.2120556831208E-10
-9.52.1583899858719E-10
-102.1084497520162E-10