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 0.006 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]
01.9890386309808E-11
-0.51.5478577165572E-11
-11.3107960628301E-11
-1.51.1573019380693E-11
-21.0475626824643E-11
-2.59.6409197634137E-12
-38.9784511303851E-12
-3.58.4361182182027E-12
-47.9815116586385E-12
-4.57.5932746226203E-12
-57.2566855054836E-12
-5.56.9612229074529E-12
-66.6991406874213E-12
-6.56.4645925550608E-12
-76.2530721062707E-12
-7.56.0610422092106E-12
-85.8856824439818E-12
-8.55.724712582323E-12
-95.5762664523082E-12
-9.55.4388000285122E-12
-105.3110232874785E-12