Physics of Semiconductor Devices

Return to
problem list

      

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 0.002 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]
01.4770056355706E-11
-0.51.1510902337652E-11
-19.7542017754024E-12
-1.58.6150738604315E-12
-27.7999506989131E-12
-2.57.1795858660995E-12
-36.6870275565085E-12
-3.56.2836679021083E-12
-45.9454734949229E-12
-4.55.6565977956793E-12
-55.4061124854953E-12
-5.55.1862042588273E-12
-64.9911189551541E-12
-6.54.8165125623623E-12
-74.6590359018539E-12
-7.54.5160596516739E-12
-84.3854869009526E-12
-8.54.2656221041841E-12
-94.1550774180929E-12
-9.54.0527044385273E-12
-103.957543578705E-12