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 0.004 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]
01.9206272267097E-11
-0.51.4803997442157E-11
-11.2485455247475E-11
-1.51.0998359296341E-11
-29.9410564766422E-12
-2.59.1397802835578E-12
-38.5054940983139E-12
-3.57.9872397571141E-12
-47.5534705486785E-12
-4.57.183473945736E-12
-56.8630137463324E-12
-5.56.581939365884E-12
-66.3327922234512E-12
-6.56.1099523022774E-12
-75.9090936905086E-12
-7.55.7268250452217E-12
-85.5604450591759E-12
-8.55.4077718410254E-12
-95.2670211782568E-12
-9.55.1367179494495E-12
-105.0156305203117E-12