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]
05.9688531263536E-10
-0.54.8119832403503E-10
-14.1413880393543E-10
-1.53.6904702055655E-10
-23.3606621738359E-10
-2.53.1059400435873E-10
-32.901549816744E-10
-3.52.732837085715E-10
-42.5905001165598E-10
-4.52.4683128390807E-10
-52.3619297979338E-10
-5.52.2682136524778E-10
-62.1848350235217E-10
-6.52.1100232556321E-10
-72.0424051354292E-10
-7.51.9808970893025E-10
-81.9246310921092E-10
-8.51.8729024971981E-10
-91.8251325131808E-10
-9.51.780840703286E-10
-101.7396244897575E-10