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]
02.6835398344604E-11
-0.52.0785457397259E-11
-11.7566500258775E-11
-1.51.5491992487198E-11
-21.4012916721329E-11
-2.51.2889933634822E-11
-31.1999823977429E-11
-3.51.1271835129075E-11
-41.066206116687E-11
-4.51.0141621954639E-11
-59.6906386349113E-12
-5.59.2949206042218E-12
-68.9440305007822E-12
-6.58.630097323486E-12
-78.3470582379641E-12
-7.58.090157330752E-12
-87.8556043603441E-12
-8.57.6403364524344E-12
-97.4418479423969E-12
-9.57.2580664700041E-12
-107.0872611666616E-12