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 0.006 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]
02.0227065614041E-11
-0.51.56356615356E-11
-11.3202949752019E-11
-1.51.1638237261062E-11
-21.0523921902268E-11
-2.59.6785258607417E-12
-39.0088018949073E-12
-3.58.4612796377961E-12
-48.002810634306E-12
-4.57.6116072819409E-12
-57.2726816980444E-12
-5.56.9753399498519E-12
-66.7117197053746E-12
-6.56.4758938632381E-12
-76.26329825756E-12
-7.56.0703534888732E-12
-85.8942075704114E-12
-8.55.7325562734331E-12
-95.5835148875969E-12
-9.55.4455248651004E-12
-105.317284661733E-12