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 0.008 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]
05.868411004181E-11
-0.54.5855366476077E-11
-13.8902066719012E-11
-1.53.4381165787323E-11
-23.1141039330351E-11
-2.52.8672495786011E-11
-32.6711054420079E-11
-3.52.5103917569815E-11
-42.3755838126892E-11
-4.52.2603948255378E-11
-52.1604855866242E-11
-5.52.0727516265188E-11
-61.9949053474676E-11
-6.51.9252189415619E-11
-71.8623597483401E-11
-7.51.8052811746517E-11
-81.753148295065E-11
-8.51.7052858124448E-11
-91.6611408473561E-11
-9.51.6202558079956E-11
-101.5822482644909E-11