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 0.007 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]
04.7110762359938E-10
-0.53.8001601569089E-10
-13.2714740204971E-10
-1.52.9157462422292E-10
-22.6554571404964E-10
-2.52.4543720137724E-10
-32.2929884632202E-10
-3.52.1597553703459E-10
-42.0473380948445E-10
-4.51.9508258337238E-10
-51.8667903356162E-10
-5.51.7927560032931E-10
-61.7268844959473E-10
-6.51.667778232228E-10
-71.6143532099438E-10
-7.51.5657539820006E-10
-81.5212952111079E-10
-8.51.480420510974E-10
-91.4426728392629E-10
-9.51.4076727963563E-10
-101.3751024503565E-10