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]
01.7923700444908E-10
-0.51.4225028169112E-10
-11.2152685123893E-10
-1.51.0783160346603E-10
-29.7920082664821E-11
-2.59.0319549892243E-11
-38.4252186728938E-11
-3.57.9263382243864E-11
-47.5067312882704E-11
-4.57.147407048291E-11
-56.835188796788E-11
-5.56.5606088762768E-11
-66.3166659756671E-11
-6.56.0980561446816E-11
-75.9006779108808E-11
-7.55.7213030433963E-11
-85.5573511880248E-11
-8.55.4067317414421E-11
-95.26773047329E-11
-9.55.1389266615119E-11
-105.0191314877657E-11