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 0.002 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]
09.3130845367331E-12
-0.57.2667049805976E-12
-16.1609212769262E-12
-1.55.4430145199122E-12
-24.9289375285942E-12
-2.54.5375048419686E-12
-34.2266099791353E-12
-3.53.9719517797141E-12
-43.7583934189856E-12
-4.53.5759496242879E-12
-53.4177316151985E-12
-5.53.2788126844146E-12
-63.155563603916E-12
-6.53.045243958547E-12
-72.9457405356739E-12
-7.52.8553940637195E-12
-82.7728810736132E-12
-8.52.6971312882014E-12
-92.6272685659371E-12
-9.52.5625678523064E-12
-102.502423251444E-12