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]
02.0754319816683E-10
-0.51.6564739165365E-10
-11.4188603610446E-10
-1.51.2608659478937E-10
-21.146096586267E-10
-2.51.0578668294294E-10
-39.8730792211E-11
-3.59.2921311170652E-11
-48.802979156954E-11
-4.58.3837443464523E-11
-58.0192149303731E-11
-5.57.6984427635654E-11
-67.4133204515552E-11
-6.57.1576988875226E-11
-76.9268182576984E-11
-7.56.7169288843767E-11
-86.525031325397E-11
-8.56.3486937932472E-11
-96.1859211013571E-11
-9.56.0350587890295E-11
-105.8947217834957E-11