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]
01.306039119932E-11
-0.51.0224017800228E-11
-18.6806994904758E-12
-1.57.6753820069495E-12
-26.9540700671008E-12
-2.56.4041208663184E-12
-35.9669152233038E-12
-3.55.6085427233089E-12
-45.3078446845184E-12
-4.55.0508449234449E-12
-54.8278912186563E-12
-5.54.6320746058742E-12
-64.4583020276409E-12
-6.54.3027254346352E-12
-74.1623759664892E-12
-7.54.0349214737897E-12
-83.9185010663697E-12
-8.53.8116093463064E-12
-93.7130136037391E-12
-9.53.6216934283041E-12
-103.5367959006454E-12