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 0.003 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]
08.4260192316984E-11
-0.56.6940801668413E-11
-15.7215537127227E-11
-1.55.0781448507634E-11
-24.6121877021886E-11
-2.54.254714552103E-11
-33.9692589535546E-11
-3.53.7344903819789E-11
-43.5369899489074E-11
-4.53.3678377416417E-11
-53.2208424581969E-11
-5.53.0915542355507E-11
-62.9766815966574E-11
-6.52.873730511679E-11
-72.7807720361065E-11
-7.52.6962876801653E-11
-82.6190635365264E-11
-8.52.5481159795651E-11
-92.4826383807201E-11
-9.52.4219621576634E-11
-102.3655278124513E-11