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 0.002 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]
02.8878955479634E-11
-0.52.2704691607877E-11
-11.9314320133044E-11
-1.51.7095990604731E-11
-21.5500125534984E-11
-2.51.4281245491117E-11
-31.3311024317198E-11
-3.51.2514993606207E-11
-41.184658045176E-11
-4.51.1274966643634E-11
-51.0778838374002E-11
-5.51.03429218315E-11
-69.9559468877652E-12
-6.59.6093915362169E-12
-79.2966763017121E-12
-7.59.0126296704831E-12
-88.7531229821456E-12
-8.58.5148147483958E-12
-98.2949676380157E-12
-9.58.0913149179254E-12
-107.9019612942076E-12