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 0.002 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]
05.1885799541708E-11
-0.54.1411847913413E-11
-13.5471509026116E-11
-1.53.1521648697341E-11
-22.8652414656675E-11
-2.52.6446670735735E-11
-32.468269805275E-11
-3.52.3230327792663E-11
-42.2007447892385E-11
-4.52.0959360866131E-11
-52.0048037325933E-11
-5.51.9246106908913E-11
-61.8533301128888E-11
-6.51.7894247218806E-11
-71.7317045644246E-11
-7.51.6792322210942E-11
-81.6312578313493E-11
-8.51.5871734483118E-11
-91.5464802753393E-11
-9.51.5087646972574E-11
-101.4736804458739E-11