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]
01.1071903794899E-10
-0.58.8431570713525E-11
-17.5771682908346E-11
-1.56.7347267823915E-11
-26.122474318234E-11
-2.55.6516499719965E-11
-35.2750363521519E-11
-3.54.9648966962277E-11
-44.7037268458223E-11
-4.54.4798628638117E-11
-54.2851930543413E-11
-5.54.1138780414553E-11
-63.9615928351644E-11
-6.53.8250566204187E-11
-73.7017294998524E-11
-7.53.5896103719489E-11
-83.4870983575958E-11
-8.53.3928954364216E-11
-93.305936550949E-11
-9.53.2253384665093E-11
-103.1503617151375E-11