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 0.009 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]
07.69818507492E-10
-0.56.1993614985586E-10
-15.3326204710591E-10
-1.54.7505336374534E-10
-24.3251116244289E-10
-2.53.9967138649874E-10
-33.7333049167349E-10
-3.53.5159374153954E-10
-43.3325930829794E-10
-4.53.1752318887612E-10
-53.0382447566662E-10
-5.52.9175834667204E-10
-62.8102432263456E-10
-6.52.7139405417447E-10
-72.6269048528063E-10
-7.52.5477393079561E-10
-82.4753251048737E-10
-8.52.4087541514219E-10
-92.3472806432E-10
-9.52.2902855821537E-10
-102.2372503379382E-10