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]
03.1555099813686E-10
-0.52.5375174773121E-10
-12.1812542605537E-10
-1.51.9423796432447E-10
-21.7679693112995E-10
-2.51.6334264303535E-10
-31.5255615788781E-10
-3.51.4365832812403E-10
-41.3615538664362E-10
-4.51.297172420805E-10
-51.2411373690871E-10
-5.51.1917883621624E-10
-61.1478934750693E-10
-6.51.1085168079444E-10
-71.072932890009E-10
-7.51.0405695116596E-10
-81.0109684605124E-10
-8.59.837578909773E-11
-99.5863246156533E-11
-9.59.3533878440696E-11
-109.1366458565028E-11