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 0.009 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]
08.1846561801361E-10
-0.56.5855857243972E-10
-15.6625671190997E-10
-1.55.0432736193113E-10
-24.5909230929541E-10
-2.54.2418766375811E-10
-33.9619855912386E-10
-3.53.7310671016949E-10
-43.5363260228053E-10
-4.53.3692061406638E-10
-53.2237402350033E-10
-5.53.0956227655277E-10
-62.9816586625816E-10
-6.52.8794202938816E-10
-72.7870256459491E-10
-7.52.7029901487039E-10
-82.6261248898116E-10
-8.52.5554649772375E-10
-92.490218034944E-10
-9.52.4297264691619E-10
-102.3734393553603E-10