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 0.003 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]
07.7694079113201E-11
-0.56.2049262886239E-11
-15.3164190649561E-11
-1.54.7252238553515E-11
-24.2955911209369E-11
-2.53.9652144836553E-11
-33.7009525463107E-11
-3.53.4833384808562E-11
-43.300087749908E-11
-4.53.1430148419179E-11
-53.0064273122263E-11
-5.52.8862274381087E-11
-62.7793802659794E-11
-6.52.6835836070939E-11
-72.5970552111975E-11
-7.52.5183909206558E-11
-82.4464674239068E-11
-8.52.3803739299339E-11
-92.3193631192471E-11
-9.52.2628152571381E-11
-102.2102114887594E-11