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]
07.8977602501561E-11
-0.56.2697228794668E-11
-15.3570062996778E-11
-1.54.7536523135546E-11
-24.3169153791945E-11
-2.53.9819687878108E-11
-33.7145642319141E-11
-3.53.4946803514342E-11
-43.3097272973544E-11
-4.53.1513390421893E-11
-53.0137102827405E-11
-5.52.8926694917516E-11
-62.7851316301569E-11
-6.52.6887594486789E-11
-72.6017454976974E-11
-7.52.5226670913338E-11
-82.4503870225597E-11
-8.52.3839838965582E-11
-92.3227021764245E-11
-9.52.2659156713406E-11
-102.2131003912629E-11