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 0.008 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]
02.5037312603063E-10
-0.51.9915581144607E-10
-11.7031936042735E-10
-1.51.5121607067333E-10
-21.3737025282694E-10
-2.51.267422355658E-10
-31.182520497795E-10
-3.51.1126736809439E-10
-41.0539011041728E-10
-4.51.0035551405847E-10
-59.5979725798637E-11
-5.59.2130557193153E-11
-68.8710201492383E-11
-6.58.5644529290876E-11
-78.287619452677E-11
-7.58.0360045090509E-11
-87.8059979608608E-11
-8.57.5946740960944E-11
-97.399633353543E-11
-9.57.2188866008169E-11
-107.050769073424E-11