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]
04.4485718949342E-10
-0.53.5813028543529E-10
-13.0801260436555E-10
-1.52.7436663951591E-10
-22.4978171117496E-10
-2.52.3080662033372E-10
-32.1558829293174E-10
-3.52.0303102435135E-10
-41.9243995133028E-10
-4.51.8335029451039E-10
-51.7543784412496E-10
-5.51.6846863329819E-10
-61.622690148773E-10
-6.51.5670703516014E-10
-71.5168038712216E-10
-7.51.4710836182317E-10
-81.4292631883149E-10
-8.51.3908179398957E-10
-91.3553170075712E-10
-9.51.3224027962571E-10
-101.2917757022449E-10