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]
03.7394954795362E-10
-0.52.9792143755272E-10
-12.5497041955821E-10
-1.52.2646792505823E-10
-22.057882424882E-10
-2.51.899034858275E-10
-31.7720758413454E-10
-3.51.6675899945419E-10
-41.5796443912824E-10
-4.51.5042902179184E-10
-51.4387838206923E-10
-5.51.3811516219406E-10
-61.3299327965006E-10
-6.51.2840197963332E-10
-71.2425555877738E-10
-7.51.2048652104892E-10
-81.1704088846916E-10
-8.51.1387490819629E-10
-91.1095268975164E-10
-9.51.082444770224E-10
-101.0572536286584E-10