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 0.007 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]
01.8128618459747E-10
-0.51.4478161340122E-10
-11.2404977818231E-10
-1.51.1025522329153E-10
-21.0023045948853E-10
-2.59.252167128529E-11
-38.6355559413917E-11
-3.58.1277897886644E-11
-47.7002047497854E-11
-4.57.3337012978084E-11
-57.0149970618613E-11
-5.56.7345306889203E-11
-66.4852206206186E-11
-6.56.2616950832192E-11
-76.0597954927941E-11
-7.55.8762454815302E-11
-85.708423989116E-11
-8.55.5542058365125E-11
-95.4118472782432E-11
-9.55.2799022666557E-11
-105.1571601404387E-11