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]
02.6962605660048E-10
-0.52.1784437372763E-10
-11.8768415291831E-10
-1.51.6735322008408E-10
-21.5245991106513E-10
-2.51.4094521871451E-10
-31.3169874569357E-10
-3.51.2406189324426E-10
-41.1761603280666E-10
-4.51.1208065032261E-10
-51.0725979071642E-10
-5.51.0301187637996E-10
-69.9231727325475E-11
-6.59.5839351416579E-11
-79.2772684567257E-11
-7.58.9982734811828E-11
-88.7430242852036E-11
-8.58.508332939746E-11
-98.2915802224943E-11
-9.58.0905914912922E-11
-107.9035441410798E-11