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]
06.4946174038825E-12
-0.55.0948868994243E-12
-14.3298552215584E-12
-1.53.8304309108837E-12
-23.4716327170363E-12
-2.53.1978396298902E-12
-32.9800427008433E-12
-3.52.801434966628E-12
-42.6515177581132E-12
-4.52.5233502542986E-12
-52.4121356880354E-12
-5.52.3144386554534E-12
-62.2277255124812E-12
-6.52.150081217249E-12
-72.0800277733997E-12
-7.52.01640382256E-12
-81.9582824474025E-12
-8.51.9049136347897E-12
-91.8556831068773E-12
-9.51.8100822873596E-12
-101.7676860100171E-12