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 0.009 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]
02.9835579464712E-11
-0.52.3217865748358E-11
-11.9661940942452E-11
-1.51.735952907104E-11
-21.5713440236965E-11
-2.51.4461379645121E-11
-31.3467676695578E-11
-3.51.2654177327304E-11
-41.1972267487958E-11
-4.51.138991193393E-11
-51.0885028258225E-11
-5.51.0441834361179E-11
-61.0048711031132E-11
-6.59.6968888325912E-12
-79.379608159406E-12
-7.59.0915633138158E-12
-88.8285236659727E-12
-8.58.5870688734845E-12
-98.3643996784623E-12
-9.58.1582000427682E-12
-107.9665349312177E-12