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]
09.2689191338207E-12
-0.57.2456660928219E-12
-16.1480838674616E-12
-1.55.4341560905874E-12
-24.9223565732239E-12
-2.54.5323689848024E-12
-34.2224581859573E-12
-3.53.9685055369911E-12
-43.7554733049586E-12
-4.53.5734341770787E-12
-53.4155353006184E-12
-5.53.2768733003115E-12
-63.1538346904939E-12
-6.53.0436900222249E-12
-72.9443339318747E-12
-7.52.8541128981588E-12
-82.7717077509053E-12
-8.52.6960514843805E-12
-92.6262704859618E-12
-9.52.5616416836241E-12
-102.5015607552405E-12