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 0.004 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]
03.4243116119876E-11
-0.52.6900021694484E-11
-12.2874833747237E-11
-1.52.0243377656716E-11
-21.8351268875065E-11
-2.51.6906613555771E-11
-31.5756954159119E-11
-3.51.4813871936713E-11
-41.4022093935403E-11
-4.51.3345057464873E-11
-51.2757482722404E-11
-5.51.2241257813885E-11
-61.1783020925643E-11
-6.51.137266997394E-11
-71.1002406610363E-11
-7.51.0666101983199E-11
-81.0358863636539E-11
-8.51.0076732263148E-11
-99.8164646729393E-12
-9.59.5753754296702E-12
-109.3512192895189E-12