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 0.004 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]
01.0359210548427E-10
-0.58.2732350514985E-11
-17.0885587532748E-11
-1.56.300298473802E-11
-25.7274548279159E-11
-2.55.2869526448737E-11
-34.934603395081E-11
-3.54.6444513078082E-11
-44.4001169998773E-11
-4.54.1906864558905E-11
-54.008569749635E-11
-5.53.8483032508116E-11
-63.7058403546392E-11
-6.53.5781114761253E-11
-73.4627402815966E-11
-7.53.3578545608744E-11
-83.2619565652091E-11
-8.53.1738319065786E-11
-93.0924841589961E-11
-9.53.0170870095175E-11
-102.9469486516792E-11