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 0.003 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]
01.4064627040085E-11
-0.51.0945006876895E-11
-19.2687278477982E-12
-1.58.1833604828916E-12
-27.407386764885E-12
-2.56.8171597415853E-12
-36.3487236788473E-12
-3.55.9652363989825E-12
-45.6437810179428E-12
-4.55.3692559770666E-12
-55.1312515298656E-12
-5.54.922327923211E-12
-64.7370078081983E-12
-6.54.5711572332915E-12
-74.4215896895925E-12
-7.54.2858040471907E-12
-84.1618059680501E-12
-8.54.0479830873045E-12
-93.9430158221302E-12
-9.53.8458123816785E-12
-103.7554605816157E-12