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 0.003 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]
02.3778783091596E-10
-0.51.9212067913264E-10
-11.6552186454989E-10
-1.51.4759166714945E-10
-21.3445700319512E-10
-2.51.243019990674E-10
-31.1614737636145E-10
-3.51.0941230556805E-10
-41.0372759100014E-10
-4.59.884584251201E-11
-59.4594243970825E-11
-5.59.0847935662504E-11
-68.751415755686E-11
-6.58.4522363220664E-11
-78.1817817274934E-11
-7.57.935731286719E-11
-87.7106226550824E-11
-8.57.5036443434357E-11
-97.3124864148205E-11
-9.57.1352310151247E-11
-106.9702707577729E-11