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 0.001 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]
02.4120844784931E-11
-0.51.9221896042121E-11
-11.6452721120971E-11
-1.51.4614553154026E-11
-21.3280656107413E-11
-2.51.2255924227603E-11
-31.1436837074618E-11
-3.51.0762694331612E-11
-41.0195240820518E-11
-4.59.7090117228312E-12
-59.2863122544839E-12
-5.58.9144131161514E-12
-68.5838915705296E-12
-6.58.2876032207226E-12
-78.0200193850634E-12
-7.57.7767857480245E-12
-87.5544199471962E-12
-8.57.3500991997149E-12
-97.1615079096446E-12
-9.56.9867262117119E-12
-106.8241470595936E-12