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]
01.9225063543248E-10
-0.51.5341202259238E-10
-11.3139383096564E-10
-1.51.1675658058613E-10
-21.0612525605944E-10
-2.59.7953065103472E-11
-39.1418030300166E-11
-3.58.6037652992241E-11
-48.1507602629111E-11
-4.57.7625173110595E-11
-57.4249439589598E-11
-5.57.127898214022E-11
-66.8638700265451E-11
-6.56.6271635853854E-11
-76.4133701137941E-11
-7.56.219016580121E-11
-86.04132491164E-11
-8.55.8780428488258E-11
-95.7273225398141E-11
-9.55.5876317266419E-11
-105.4576876634136E-11