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]
07.7324141300333E-11
-0.56.0659116622449E-11
-15.1550740581211E-11
-1.54.5604654219858E-11
-24.133284565685E-11
-2.53.8073097770103E-11
-33.548003347253E-11
-3.53.3353551061182E-11
-43.1568654631776E-11
-4.53.0042707596136E-11
-52.8718600215884E-11
-5.52.7555430981699E-11
-62.6523034629027E-11
-6.52.5598610897443E-11
-72.4764562938354E-11
-7.52.4007063757282E-11
-82.3315077586924E-11
-8.52.2679674860194E-11
-92.2093542058235E-11
-9.52.1550624132125E-11
-102.104585910349E-11