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 0.001 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]
03.1059565707105E-11
-0.52.4774660620022E-11
-12.1214832301652E-11
-1.51.8849400184879E-11
-21.7131812426189E-11
-2.51.5811764808698E-11
-31.4756306618668E-11
-3.51.3887422022269E-11
-41.3155915551652E-11
-4.51.2529025728548E-11
-51.1983979663467E-11
-5.51.1504390341212E-11
-61.1078124588036E-11
-6.51.0695981104689E-11
-71.035083826644E-11
-7.51.003708634968E-11
-89.75023840054E-12
-8.59.4866569056459E-12
-99.2433576238838E-12
-9.59.0178660905089E-12
-108.8081108559048E-12