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]
01.5397685639815E-10
-0.51.2274993408549E-10
-11.0508439853921E-10
-1.59.3353301655879E-11
-28.4838329458994E-11
-2.57.8295832240069E-11
-37.3065665682074E-11
-3.56.8760631576088E-11
-46.5136651792672E-11
-4.56.2031226214067E-11
-55.9331422653035E-11
-5.55.6955990717543E-11
-65.4844780021189E-11
-6.55.295218046073E-11
-75.1242894342587E-11
-7.54.9689120053245E-11
-84.8268622125103E-11
-8.54.6963375803494E-11
-94.5758594360328E-11
-9.54.4642017649336E-11
-104.3603382835907E-11