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 0.002 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]
02.8693818720795E-11
-0.52.2614391129208E-11
-11.9258640383138E-11
-1.51.7057340714139E-11
-21.5471302936968E-11
-2.51.4258692264176E-11
-31.3292756786096E-11
-3.51.2499807689279E-11
-41.1833697650535E-11
-4.51.1263858441442E-11
-51.0769131730391E-11
-5.51.0334344949966E-11
-69.9482964364491E-12
-6.59.6025119669755E-12
-79.2904463230039E-12
-7.59.0069531229853E-12
-88.7479225184049E-12
-8.58.5100273521271E-12
-98.2905413820991E-12
-9.58.0872065758033E-12
-107.8981345513435E-12