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 0.004 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]
08.9455196499389E-11
-0.57.0880020218673E-11
-16.0508808873497E-11
-1.55.3666869968555E-11
-24.8720440073446E-11
-2.54.4930008986968E-11
-34.1905714127629E-11
-3.53.9419980569411E-11
-43.73298610367E-11
-4.53.5540446516443E-11
-53.3985922655869E-11
-5.53.2619023093375E-11
-63.1404808121737E-11
-6.53.0316817373894E-11
-72.9334595197305E-11
-7.52.8442045083646E-11
-82.7626303706229E-11
-8.52.6876951167322E-11
-92.6185444908123E-11
-9.52.5544706080805E-11
-102.4948812116257E-11