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 0.007 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]
03.0849263804293E-10
-0.52.457726468801E-10
-12.1033986478352E-10
-1.51.8682650645157E-10
-21.6976663871051E-10
-2.51.5666238303285E-10
-31.4618879848909E-10
-3.51.3756915589426E-10
-41.3031401377623E-10
-4.51.2409761162898E-10
-51.1869360956519E-10
-5.51.1393919573411E-10
-61.0971385820826E-10
-6.51.0592622893591E-10
-71.0250560624687E-10
-7.59.9396308754477E-11
-89.655380689808E-11
-8.59.3942006424691E-11
-99.1531299199985E-11
-9.58.9297137683288E-11
-108.7218974530152E-11