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]
06.6292858723152E-10
-0.55.3491421804322E-10
-14.6056523127497E-10
-1.54.1052151919674E-10
-23.7389605947079E-10
-2.53.4559700785457E-10
-33.2288276923145E-10
-3.53.0412908224649E-10
-42.8830437909479E-10
-4.52.7471788079248E-10
-52.6288729164753E-10
-5.52.5246430239515E-10
-62.4319024186041E-10
-6.52.3486844352657E-10
-72.2734635804018E-10
-7.52.205035936603E-10
-82.1424369458837E-10
-8.52.0848835060241E-10
-92.0317323155704E-10
-9.51.982449339936E-10
-101.9365870517888E-10