Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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]
06.297746389387E-11
-0.54.9981654216054E-11
-14.2700182975942E-11
-1.53.7888163411195E-11
-23.4405609988089E-11
-2.53.1735054988967E-11
-32.9603200879251E-11
-3.52.7850313659907E-11
-42.6375965170872E-11
-4.52.511342848549E-11
-52.4016405372351E-11
-5.52.3051629873947E-11
-62.2194501890664E-11
-6.52.1426385240866E-11
-72.0732868819364E-11
-7.52.0102609779095E-11
-81.9526541679557E-11
-8.51.8997318889428E-11
-91.8508918217192E-11
-9.51.8056347754381E-11
-101.7635430419121E-11