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 0.001 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]
08.1598174647561E-12
-0.56.3377115173193E-12
-15.3625897923395E-12
-1.54.732428218693E-12
-24.2824115036846E-12
-2.53.9403734545599E-12
-33.6690585775486E-12
-3.53.4470341986917E-12
-43.2609816576282E-12
-4.53.1021309524716E-12
-52.9644403886422E-12
-5.52.8435941160631E-12
-62.7364159671468E-12
-6.52.6405095877947E-12
-72.5540283697846E-12
-7.52.47552325122E-12
-82.4038390397512E-12
-8.52.3380419759077E-12
-92.2773679883439E-12
-9.52.2211849997853E-12
-102.1689649864219E-12