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 0.006 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]
08.7611767603261E-11
-0.56.8584796413436E-11
-15.8231902458855E-11
-1.55.1488027762453E-11
-24.6649320171002E-11
-2.54.2960148779638E-11
-34.0027284165857E-11
-3.53.7623248352091E-11
-43.5606104585782E-11
-4.53.3882097777897E-11
-53.238647885867E-11
-5.53.1072901086756E-11
-62.990719919409E-11
-6.52.8863559681085E-11
-72.7922066826944E-11
-7.52.7067076097802E-11
-82.6286104262924E-11
-8.52.5569052806044E-11
-92.4907652458026E-11
-9.52.4295058098057E-11
-102.3725548169157E-11