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 0.007 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]
05.975104963093E-11
-0.54.6990350443818E-11
-13.9978844409503E-11
-1.53.5389776672116E-11
-23.2087793621245E-11
-2.52.9565514579182E-11
-32.7557618829771E-11
-3.52.5910105419071E-11
-42.4526645779207E-11
-4.52.3343489437573E-11
-52.2316542328219E-11
-5.52.1414203392114E-11
-62.0613153504465E-11
-6.51.9895758704294E-11
-71.9248403907323E-11
-7.51.8660387112003E-11
-81.8123164098173E-11
-8.51.7629819466311E-11
-91.7174687991306E-11
-9.51.6753078284912E-11
-101.6361067624392E-11