Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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 0.007 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]
06.3658436956614E-10
-0.55.1221222300867E-10
-14.4042188704108E-10
-1.53.9225461483532E-10
-23.5707179611865E-10
-2.53.2992373847853E-10
-33.0815443487412E-10
-3.52.901941079096E-10
-42.7504757955152E-10
-4.52.6204936649607E-10
-52.5073535161137E-10
-5.52.4077065954104E-10
-62.3190678486746E-10
-6.52.2395491174635E-10
-72.1676866135159E-10
-7.52.1023256712141E-10
-82.0425415809646E-10
-8.51.9875838711847E-10
-91.9368362494009E-10
-9.51.8897872537926E-10
-101.8460083875025E-10