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 0.009 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]
06.547075179114E-11
-0.55.1324145682869E-11
-14.3603809437595E-11
-1.53.856752661643E-11
-23.4950911207181E-11
-2.53.2191926655766E-11
-32.9997661639769E-11
-3.52.8198498824521E-11
-42.66885248778E-11
-4.52.5397739393619E-11
-52.4277776643551E-11
-5.52.3294004037153E-11
-62.2420883699531E-11
-6.52.1639115510547E-11
-72.0933805654084E-11
-7.52.0293252230307E-11
-81.9708116376879E-11
-8.51.9170842143459E-11
-91.8675241449093E-11
-9.51.8216191330477E-11
-101.7789409257035E-11