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]
07.9391234480607E-11
-0.56.4108007538548E-11
-15.5217283489429E-11
-1.54.9227933075982E-11
-24.484221694851E-11
-2.54.1452340571317E-11
-33.8730753701755E-11
-3.53.6483274551954E-11
-43.4586519347353E-11
-4.53.2957834683764E-11
-53.1539495536832E-11
-5.53.0289803304118E-11
-62.9177784311588E-11
-6.52.8179885362642E-11
-72.7277834126139E-11
-7.52.6457208254517E-11
-82.5706451512231E-11
-8.52.5016180729015E-11
-92.4378687153652E-11
-9.52.3787570885392E-11
-102.3237468349049E-11