Given below some sample assignment problems on Semiconductor

Device Modeling (EE5132). Please note that one should solve more
problems available in any text book to master the subject.

1. What is the fraction of electron states occupied by electron at an energy of

E=EF+0.0455eV at T=300K? What is the fraction of these states occupied by holes?
What are the electron and hole occupancy fraction if Boltzmann approximation is
made?

2. Explain why a completely filled band does not contribute in current flow?

3. A Si sample is uniformly doped with 1015 As atoms/cm3 at T=300K. If intrinsic

carrier concentration follows the formulation ni2=1.5x1033T3exp(-1.21eV/kT) (with k
as Boltzmann constant given in eV/K), where is the Fermi-level (EF) located relative
to intrinsic Fermi level (EI) at (a) T=300K and (b) T=1200K?

4. For an indirect band-gap semiconductor with energy-gap, EG=0.711eV, and lattice

spacing, a=5Ao, wavelength of emitted photon due to radiative recombination is
found to be λ=2μm. Assume that (i) the released energy due to a recombination is
equal to the energy gap and is taken away partly by a photon and partly by phonons,
(ii) change in electron momentum is equal to the photon momentum plus number of
generated phonons times each phonon momentum. (a) Find out the number of
phonons (each having energy of 30meV) generated during each radiative
recombination. (b) If the change of electron wave number (k) due to the
recombination process is of the order of 2π/a, what is the wavelength of each emitted
phonon?

5. In the following cases, show the position of the Fermi level at T=0K in energy band
diagram and give reason for your answer. Mark EC, EV, EF, EI, EA, ED. for: a) N type,
NA=0, b) P type, ND=0.

6. A 1cm3 of a metal has a density of states as D( E ) = 6.82 × 10 21 E , where E is the

energy of interest. If the number of electrons in a small energy interval between
E1=4.6eV and E2=4.601eV at 300K is 2.07 × 1015 , Determine (a) the fraction of the
energy states between E1 and E2 occupied by electrons and position of the Fermi level,
(b) the number of electrons between E1 and E2 at T=0K.

7. Prove that, within a material or in a junction of two materials in intimate contact

(such that electrons can move between the two), there can be no discontinuity or
gradient in the equilibrium Fermi level EF.

8. Consider a Silicon sample in equilibrium whose ni=1.5x1010/cm3 and µn=1350cm2/V-

s, µp=480cm2/V-s, find (a) the electron concentration when its conductivity will be
minimum and (b) the minimum conductivity.
9. Sketch the energy band diagram (E versus x) including Fermi level of an intrinsic
semiconductor under uniform electric field in x-direction.

10. Sketch the energy band diagram of a moderately and uniformly doped n-type silicon,
clearly showing the location of the phosphorus impurity level, Fermi-level and
Intrinsic level at room temperature. On the diagram, mark the Energy differences (Ec
- Ev) and (Ef – Ei) for a doping level of 1015cm-3, assuming the intrinsic concentration
as 1.5x1010 cm-3 at room temperature.

11. A silicon sample is doped with 1018 donor atoms per cm3. The position of the Fermi
level for this sample is EF=Ei+0.45eV at 300K. What fraction of the donors is ionized
in this semiconductor?

12. Which statement(s) is (are) correct? When the temperature is increased, the position
of the Fermi level in an n-type semiconductor (A) moves towards the conduction
band edge (B) moves towards the valence band edge (C) moves towards the middle of
the band gap (D) remains unchanged.

13. Which statement(s) is (are) correct? As the temperature is increased from 0K, the
mobility of a moderately doped semiconductor shows (A) a decrease followed by an
increase (B) an increase followed by decrease (C) a monotonic increase (D) a
monotonic decrease.
17
14. A silicon sample A is doped with 10 phosphorus atoms/cm3 and sample B is doped
17 3
with 10 boron atoms/cm . Which of the two samples has a higher resistivity?
17
15. A phosphorus doped (10 atoms/cm3) Si sample has resistivity of 0.1Ω-cm. Calculate
the doping concentration of boron atoms if it is additionally used to reduce the
resistivity of this doped sample by 50%. Assume that due to this additional boron
doping electron mobility is not reduced further and in the final sample it is three times
of the hole mobility.

16. Estimate the room temperature hole concentration and resistivity in a silicon sample
with 1015 cm-3 phosphorus atoms, taking hole mobility = 400 cm2 / V-s, electron
mobility =1000 cm2 / V-s and intrinsic concentration = 1.5 x 1010 cm-3.
16
17. A silicon sample is doped with 10 phosphorus atoms/cm3. Assuming complete
ionization, find out the resistivity of the sample at 300K considering the electron
mobility in silicon to be 1350 cm2/V-sec and the hole mobility 450cm2/V-sec.

18. A current of 1 mA flows through a bar of uniformly doped n-type silicon with a cross
sectional area of 2mm x 2mm and a length of 1cm when it is connected to a 3V
battery at 300K. Calculate the electron and hole concentrations in the bar.
 
19. The equilibrium intrinsic Fermi potential (derived from intrinsic Fermi energy level)
variation in an n-type Si slice of thickness L is found to be given by VI(x)=V0+(VL-
V0)(x/L). If n(x=0) =1016/cm3, (a) what are the equilibrium concentrations of
electrons and holes as a function of x? (b) Obtain the expressions of the drift current
density as a function of x. (c) If V0=0.8V, VL=0.4V, and L=10μm, obtain the
numerical values of concentrations of electrons and holes, and drift current density at
x=5μm. Use ni = 1.5x1010 cm-3, μn=1400cm2/V-s, and μp=478cm2/V-s at 300K.

20. A current of 1A is forced through a homogenous n-type 1Ω-cm Si bar with a cross-
sectional area of 1mm2. What are the quasi-Fermi electric field of electrons and quasi-
Fermi electric field of holes in the Si bar? What is the electron (or hole) quasi-Fermi
potential difference between the two ends of the bar of 1cm? What is the applied
voltage across 1cm bar?

21. An intrinsic Si sample is doped with donors from one side such that ND=N0exp(-ax).
(a) Find an expression for the field ε(x) at equilibrium over the range for which ND
>> ni. (b) Evaluate ε(x) when a=1/μm. (c) Sketch a band diagram indicating the
direction of field. (d) If light is shone at one side of the sample yielding the
generation of excess electrons and holes, sketch the resulting quasi-Fermi levels of
electrons and holes onto the band diagram. Show the equilibrium Fermi level for
reference.

22. Construct a time-dependent carrier concentration (semi-logarithmic) plot for Si doped

with 2x1015 donors/cm3 and having 4x1014 EHP/cm3 created uniformly at t=0.
Assume τn=τp=5μs. Calculate the recombination co-efficient αr for this low level
excitations. Assume that this value of αr applies when the GaAs sample is uniformly
exposed to a steady-state optical generation rate gop=1019 EHP/cm3-s. Find the steady
state excess carrier concentrations where the light is exposed.

23. Assume an n-type semiconductor bar is illuminated over a narrow region of its length
generating steady-state equal number of excess holes and electrons in the illuminated
zone, and the excess carriers diffuse away and recombine in both directions along the
bar. Assuming δn=δp, sketch the excess carrier distribution and, on a band diagram,
sketch the quasi-Fermi levels of electrons and holes over several diffusion lengths
from the illuminated zone.
24. The steady-state excess hole concentration at x=0 is δp(x=0)=1016/cm3. The semi-
infinite Si bar has a cross-section A=10-3cm2. The hole diffusion length Lp is given as
10-3cm, and the hole life time is 10-6s. What is the steady state stored charge Qp in
the exponential excess hole distribution? The hole current required to feed the hole
injection at x=0 is obtained as Ip(x=0)=(qADp/Lp)δp(x=0). Show that this current can
be calculated by dividing Qp by the average hole life time, τp. Explain why this
approach gves Ip(x=0). What is the slope of the steady state hole hole distribution at
x=0?
 
25. Draw the energy band diagrams of an abrupt p-n junction diode when the diode is (a)
in thermal equilibrium, (b) forward biased by Vf and (c) reverse biased by Vr. In each
figure, show the position of the Fermi level or quasi Fermi levels along with their
energy difference, whichever is applicable. Also show the difference in the energies
of the conduction band edges of the p-region and n-region in all the cases (the built-in
potential is Vbi).

26. A p-n junction under a forward bias of 0.4V has a depletion width of W = 0.1μm.
Calculate the peak electric field Epeak in V/cm. Given the built in potential V0 = 0.8V.

27. The figure below shows the electric field profile for a reverse biased p-n junction. (a)
If the doping concentration on the p-side is 1017/cm3, what is the doping concentration
on the n-side? (b) If the built-in potential of the p-n junction is 0.75 V and the applied
reverse bias is 5.25 V, what is magnitude of the maximum electric field (Em)?

E(x)
1 μm 4 μm

Em

28. A p+/n junction is doped with NDD=1016/cm3 on the n-side where Dp=10cm2/s and
lifetime τp=0.1µs. The junction area is 10-4cm2. Calculate (a) the reverse saturation
current, (b) forward current at room temperature when applied bias is 0.6V, (c) the
junction capacitance Cj with a reverse bias of 10V, and (d) the charge storage or
diffusion capacitance Cs with a forward bias of 0.6V.
29. Assume a linearly graded junction with a doping distribution described by NDD-
NAA=Gx, where G is a grade constant giving the slope of the net impurity
distribution. The doping is symmetrical, so that xp0=xn0=W/2. (a) Show that space
dependent electric field, space-charge layer width and junction capacitance are given
by

[ ]
x − (W / 2) , W = ⎡⎢12ε (V0 − V )⎤⎥ , and C j = A⎡⎢ qGε ⎤⎥ .
1/ 3 1/ 3
qG 2 2 2
E ( x) =
2ε ⎣ qG ⎦ ⎣12(V0 − V ) ⎦
30. The built-in potential of a p-n junction is 0.8 V. The depletion capacitances of the
junction at a forward bias of 0.7 V and a reverse bias of 0.8 V are C0.7f and C0.8r
respectively. Find out the ratio C0.7f /C0.8r.
31. Reverse saturation current, non-ideality factor, and room-temperature thermal voltage
of a long p+-n junction diode are 1.12pA, 1, and 0.025V, respectively. (a) Find out
the room-temperature a.c. resistance of the diode at a forward current of 0.1mA. (b) If
at room-temperature, diffusion capacitance at a forward current of 0.1mA is found to
be 10pF, find out hole lifetime (τp) within the n-region.
32. Draw the forward and reverse I-V characteristics of a 7 V zener diode approximately
to scale, showing whether the voltage axis is in nV, μV, mV or V, and the current
axis is in nA, μA, mA or A.
33. In a p-n junction diode, the diffusion length of holes in the n-side is 30μm. If x = 0 is
at the edge of the depletion region on the n-side and x = Wn is at the n-contact, show
the nature of hole concentration profile p(x) from x = 0 to x = Wn when the diode is
forward biased if (a) Wn = 2 μm and (b) Wn = 400 μm.
34. Two p-n junction diodes D1 and D2 are identical in all respects except that D1 is
made of a wider bandgap material than D2. Which statement(s) is (are) correct? The
reverse saturation current will be maximum for (A) D1 operating at 100°C, (B) D2
operating at 100°C, (C) D1 operating at 30°C, (D) D2 operating at 30°C.
35. Two p+n diodes D3 and D4 having short n-regions are identical in all respects except
that the width of the n-region in D3 is double that in D4. If the current in D3 is 1 mA
at a forward bias of 0.6 V, what will be the current in D4 at the same bias?
36. Which statement(s) is (are) correct? In their normal mode of operation, (A) a LED is
forward biased and a Zener diode is reverse biased, (B) a LED is reverse biased and a
Zener diode is forward biased, (C) both LED and Zener diode are forward biased, (D)
both LED and Zener diode are reverse biased.
37. Find the expression for zero bias depletion capacitance in a p/n junction. Also find the
expression for bias dependent depletion charge in terms of zero bias depletion
capacitance. What is the substrate dopant concentration needed to make a p++/n
junction capacitor to tune over the frequency range of the 17MHz to 28MHz radio
band with a variable voltage of 1.75-18 Volt? The diode is to have a diameter of
250μm and the inductance of the tuned LC circuit is 100μH. (A tuned parallel L-C
circuit has a resonance or peak impedance frequency of fr=1/2π√LC.)
38. In this problem we wish to derive the high-injection diode equation. Assume space
charge neutrality in n- and p-regions, Δnp=Δpp and Δpn=Δnn. (a) Find Δpn and Δnp in
terms of equilibrium quantities and the applied voltage. (b) Derive the diode current
equation under high injection level.
39. A p+/n diode is switched from zero bias (I=0) to a forward current I=100mA at t=0.
(a) Find the expression for the excess hole charge Qp(t) during the turn on transient
and sketch its time dependence. (b) Assuming exponential decay of excess hole
concentration inside n-region, find the junction voltage v(t) at t=0.1μs. Given thermal
voltage VT=0.0259V, ni=1.5x1010/cm3, uniform diode area as A=10-4cm2, hole life
time, diffusivity, and donor concentration in the n-side as, τp=1μs, Dp=10cm2/s, and
ND=1016/cm3, respectively.

40. A p+/n diode has an area of 1μm2, donor concentration at n-side NDD=1016/cm3 and
minority hole life time τp=100nS. Total band bending at the equilibrium appears to be
0.68eV. It provides 1mA current at a forward bias of V=0.7V, find the small-signal
diode admittance at V=0.65V and f=1GHz. If the current through this diode is
changed from 1mA to 3mA at t=0, what is the junction voltage at t=1μS? Assuming
that the critical peak electric field for breakdown is 106V/cm, calculate the breakdown
voltage (VBr) for this p+/n diode. If ionization collision probability is given
3
⎛V ⎞
xn

as ∫ α ( x)dx = ⎜⎜ r ⎟⎟ , find out the multiplication factor at a reverse bias of Vr=150V.

−xp ⎝ VBr ⎠

41. A Schottky barrier is formed between a metal having work function 4.5eV and p-type
Si (electron affinity = 4eV). The acceptor doping is NA=1018/cm3. (a) Draw the
equilibrium band diagram showing a numerical value for barrier height qV0. (b) Draw
the band diagram with 0.4V forward bias and (c) 2V reverse bias. If the Schottky
barrier is formed between the metal and n-type Si (with ND=1016/cm3), draw the
equilibrium energy band diagram to scale.

42. Will two diodes connected back-to-back behave as a transistor? Justify your answer.

43. Obtain the expression and plot the excess hole distribution δp(x) in the base [0,Wb] of
a pnp transistor, assuming Wb/Lp=1 and 0.1. Sketch the minority carrier distribution
in the base of a BJT biased in the (a) forward active and (b) saturation regions.

44. A n+pn Si transistor has a uniform area of 2x10-4cm2 and base width Wb of 1µm. The
emitter doping is 1018/cm3 and base doping is 1016/cm3. The electron lifetime and
transit time in the base are 1μs and 0.01μs, respectively. Mobility values available in
text book can be used. Using first order approximation calculate IB and IC, with
VBE=0.6V, and negligible ΔnC.
45. If the base of a Si n+pn transistor is doped with 1016 acceptors/cm3, and the collector
with 1015 donors/cm3, find the width of the depletion region on the base side of the
base-collector junction for VBC=-4V at T=300K. Assuming no change in neutral base
boundary at base-emitter junction what is the percentage reduction of base width,
compared to its equilibrium value of 1μm?

46. Assume that the transit time of electrons across the base of an npn transistor is 100ps,
and electrons cross the 1µm depletion region of the collector region at their scattering
limited velocity. The emitter-base junction charging time is 30ps and collector
capacitance and resistance are 0.1pF and 10Ω respectively. Find the cut-off frequency
fT.

47. In normal active mode an n-p-n bipolar transistor is assumed to have emitter injection
efficiency γ=1 and negligible holes entering from collector into base. If the transit
time and life time of electrons in the base region are found to be 10 ns and 0.99 μs,
respectively, find out on an average how many electrons will recombine inside the
base for every 1000 electrons injected from emitter.

48. Which statement(s) is (are) correct? To increase the β of a bipolar transistor (A) the
base width or doping concentration in the base should be increased, (B) the base
width or doping concentration in the base should be reduced, (C) the base width
should be reduced and doping concentration in the base should be increased, (D) the
base width should be increased and doping concentration in the base should be
reduced.

49. The β of an npn transistor is estimated to be 150 considering only the effect of emitter
efficiency (γ) and assuming base transport factor (αT) =1. On the other hand,
considering only the effect of αT and assuming γ =1, the β of the same transistor is
found to be 120. What is the actual β of the transistor if both αT and γ are taken into
account?

50. The β of an npn BJT is 78. If it is biased in the normal active mode in the common
emitter configuration, what is its transconductance (gm) at 300K when base current
(IB) = 10μA?

51. Draw the large-signal and small-signal equivalent circuit of an npn transistor and
write down the expressions for input (y11) and trans-admittance (y21) parameters.
52. An Al-gate p-channel MOS capacitor is made on an n-type Si substrate with
ND=5x1017/cm3. The SiO2 thickness is 100Ao in the gate region, and effective
interface charge Qi is 5x1010qC/cm2. Given metal-semiconductor work-function
potential difference ФMS=-0.18V. Draw the band diagram under equilibrium, flat-
band condition, and under strong inversion. Find the maximum depletion width, flat
band potential, and threshold voltage. Sketch the capacitance versus voltage curve for
this device marking important points.

53. The flat band voltage is shifted to -2V for an Al-SiO2-Si capacitor with substrate
acceptor doping of NA=1016/cm3, SiO2 thickness of 100Ao, relative dielectric constant
of Si as 11.8 and that of SiO2 as 3.9. Draw the capacitance versus voltage curve and
find the oxide interface charge Qi required to cause this shift in VFB, with work
function difference (in terms of potential) given in Fig.1.

C
-0.1
Al - n Si 300pF
-0.3

-0.5
ФMS
-0.7
Al - p Si
-0.9
100pF

1012 1014 1016 1018 V

VFB VTH
NAA, NDD (/cm3)
Fig. 1 Fig. 2

54. Fig. 2 shows the C-V characteristics of a metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) capacitor. Pick
the correct statement below: (A) The substrate is n-type and the measurement is done
at low frequency. (B) The substrate is p-type and the measurement is done at low
frequency. (C) The substrate is n-type and the measurement is done at high frequency.
(D) The substrate is p-type and the measurement is done at high frequency. If the area
of the MOS capacitor is 1.5mm2. What are (a) the gate oxide thickness (tox) and (b)
the maximum depletion layer width (Wmax) in μm?

55. If the area of a MOS capacitor is 1 mm2 and the gate oxide thickness (tox) is 100nm,
(a) what is Cmax? (b) if Cmin = ½Cmax, what is the maximum depletion layer width
(Wmax)?
56. In a metal/SiO2/p-Si MOS capacitor, the SiO2 layer thickness is tox and the doping
concentration of the p-type substrate is NA. The threshold voltage of the MOS
capacitor will definitely increase if (A) tox is decreased and NA is increased, (B) tox is
increased and NA is decreased, (C) both tox and NA are decreased, (D) both tox and NA
are increased.

57. Draw the drain current versus drain voltage characteristics of an n-type MOSFET for
three different gate voltages. Clearly show the saturation and ohmic regions, and the
relative spacing between the saturation segments of the curves assuming equal
increments in gate voltage.

58. For a MOS transistor if Φms=-0.95eV, Qi=5x1010qC/cm2, tox=100Ao, and

NA=1016/cm3, calculate the substrate bias required to achieve enhancement mode
operation with VTH=+0.5V for the n-channel device.

59. Plot ID vs. VD with several values of VG for thin-oxide p-channel MOS transistor with
ND=1016/cm3, Qi=5x1010qC/cm2, and tox=0.01μm. Use p-channel version of drain
current equation, and assume that ID,sat remains constant beyond pinch off. Assume
that μ p =200cm2/Vs, and Z=10L.

60. The threshold voltage (VTH) of an n-channel MOSFET is 1V. If the drain current (ID)
is 10μA when drain-to-source voltage (VDS) is 3V and gate-to-source voltage (VGS) is
2V, find out the value of ID in μA when VDS = VGS = 4V.

ID VDS Fig. 3

61. An n-channel MOSFET with threshold voltage (Vth) of 1 V has its gate shorted to
drain as shown in Fig. 3. If the drain current (ID) = 2 mA when VDS = 2 V, what is ID
when VDS = 4V?

62. A MOSFET with threshold voltage (VTh) of 1V has its gate and drain tied together
and is used as a voltage variable resistor. A d.c resistance (R = ID/VDS) of 1KΩ is
seen between source and drain when VDS = VGS = 10V. What is the value of R when
VDS = VGS = 5V.

63. In an n-channel MOSFET having a threshold voltage (Vth) of 1V, the drain current
(ID) is 2mA when VGS = VDS = 2V, where VGS and VDS are the gate-to-source voltage
and drain-to-source voltage, respectively. What is ID when VGS = 4 V and VDS = 2V?
64. Plot drain voltage dependent (a) transconductance and (b) output conductance of an
n-channel MOSFET (with VTH=1V) where drain voltage is swept from 0V to 5V at
VGS=3V. Mark important points in terms of the factor μCoxZ/L. Assume that the
substrate is shorted with source.