Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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 0.002 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]
01.8415449963531E-11
-0.51.4432642669905E-11
-11.2260252106646E-11
-1.51.0843487908351E-11
-29.8262516714632E-12
-2.59.050319844176E-12
-38.4332545634445E-12
-3.57.9273270529113E-12
-47.5027383365575E-12
-4.57.1397956993672E-12
-56.8248938923193E-12
-5.56.5482914519025E-12
-66.3028054839872E-12
-6.56.0830078112175E-12
-75.8847097042214E-12
-7.55.7046202426406E-12
-85.540113143118E-12
-8.55.3890635721724E-12
-95.2497314013454E-12
-9.55.1206760512584E-12
-105.0006932959419E-12