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 0.003 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]
02.5913402145934E-10
-0.52.0795870662419E-10
-11.7858784162685E-10
-1.51.5893976077104E-10
-21.4461420006676E-10
-2.51.3357375974342E-10
-31.2472858371148E-10
-3.51.1743595433853E-10
-41.1128908293881E-10
-4.51.0601629345218E-10
-51.014283083076E-10
-5.59.7388671513304E-11
-69.3796191720538E-11
-6.59.0574028402427E-11
-78.7662641278852E-11
-7.58.5015084345756E-11
-88.2593775492102E-11
-8.58.0368224330895E-11
-97.8313399489989E-11
-9.57.6408533011225E-11
-107.46362299663E-11