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]
01.4545364211818E-10
-0.51.1569907115466E-10
-19.8946606970775E-11
-1.58.7848598509511E-11
-27.9804905219457E-11
-2.57.3630585141119E-11
-36.8698232917636E-11
-3.56.4640499540887E-11
-46.1226121375161E-11
-4.55.8301285197282E-11
-55.5759181938751E-11
-5.55.3523017052884E-11
-65.1535969952805E-11
-6.54.97549753456E-11
-74.8146718179884E-11
-7.54.6684967450403E-11
-84.5348750154415E-11
-8.54.412106944107E-11
-94.2987985119469E-11
-9.54.1937941374686E-11
-104.0961266798988E-11