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]
03.1610698703327E-11
-0.52.4859777677853E-11
-12.1150410125713E-11
-1.51.8722609468289E-11
-21.6975728166801E-11
-2.51.5641341518586E-11
-31.4579084236841E-11
-3.51.3707483648115E-11
-41.2975578081366E-11
-4.51.2349640982933E-11
-51.1806344825652E-11
-5.51.132897138345E-11
-61.0905183905217E-11
-6.51.0525653319234E-11
-71.0183176700537E-11
-7.59.8720922616166E-12
-89.5878797677512E-12
-8.59.3268806955842E-12
-99.0860979140992E-12
-9.58.8630494909913E-12
-108.6556601488001E-12