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 0.008 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]
03.4493227324528E-10
-0.52.7697836483972E-10
-12.3792710134319E-10
-1.52.1178569753835E-10
-21.9271799481005E-10
-2.51.780187967174E-10
-31.6624000292459E-10
-3.51.5652720400508E-10
-41.4833942660427E-10
-4.51.4131527469955E-10
-51.3520290463565E-10
-5.51.2982072046643E-10
-61.2503403540124E-10
-6.51.2074056028504E-10
-71.1686102681349E-10
-7.51.133329277635E-10
-81.1010621933332E-10
-8.51.0714029785954E-10
-91.0440182711562E-10
-9.51.0186314711303E-10
-109.9501088993678E-11