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 0.004 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]
01.2464984931787E-10
-0.59.9307145850907E-11
-18.4990139852736E-11
-1.57.5489308352743E-11
-26.8596080829401E-11
-2.56.3301161942501E-11
-35.9069194711513E-11
-3.55.5586333151396E-11
-45.2654813042748E-11
-4.55.0143007263946E-11
-54.7959460689745E-11
-5.54.6038387398019E-11
-64.4331093216687E-11
-6.54.2800659877773E-11
-74.1418519592459E-11
-7.54.0162173682973E-11
-83.9013629489719E-11
-8.53.7958302732097E-11
-93.6984229917214E-11
-9.53.6081492340801E-11
-103.5241787621947E-11