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 0.002 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]
01.2096530820678E-10
-0.59.741356788128E-11
-18.3794046590668E-11
-1.57.4647434428846E-11
-26.7962572422721E-11
-2.56.2802299475442E-11
-35.8663227174674E-11
-3.55.5247626414525E-11
-45.236664817578E-11
-4.54.9893955564063E-11
-54.774141045207E-11
-5.54.5845401199905E-11
-64.415871204739E-11
-6.54.2645461351217E-11
-74.127782744336E-11
-7.54.0033860918918E-11
-83.88959814955E-11
-8.53.7849919881815E-11
-93.6883956892326E-11
-9.53.5988365910993E-11
-103.5154997448178E-11