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 0.007 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]
04.0389035838014E-11
-0.53.1370071537704E-11
-12.6543465248195E-11
-1.52.3424324594415E-11
-22.1196855498606E-11
-2.51.9503853530887E-11
-31.8160913405287E-11
-3.51.7061948798138E-11
-41.6141035704037E-11
-4.51.5354764828349E-11
-51.4673231308625E-11
-5.51.4075072776873E-11
-61.3544568005616E-11
-6.51.3069855647224E-11
-71.2641795457323E-11
-7.51.2253214945459E-11
-81.1898396201223E-11
-8.51.1572717351042E-11
-91.1272396434706E-11
-9.51.0994304829326E-11
-101.0735828950386E-11