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 0.009 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]
07.3438357182805E-11
-0.55.7039403655874E-11
-14.8263308131056E-11
-1.54.2591853968237E-11
-23.8541703533161E-11
-2.53.5463361091039E-11
-33.3021527197937E-11
-3.53.1023307788226E-11
-42.9348834918653E-11
-4.52.7919178572244E-11
-52.667996349778E-11
-5.52.5592347044568E-11
-62.4627743704321E-11
-6.52.3764586290152E-11
-72.2986255328062E-11
-7.52.227970926098E-11
-82.163455135776E-11
-8.52.1042377783169E-11
-92.0496311895095E-11
-9.51.9990664998068E-11
-101.9520684877797E-11