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]
08.4954480137708E-11
-0.56.7287351081065E-11
-15.7431473219316E-11
-1.55.0932239853225E-11
-24.6234763832898E-11
-2.54.2635717403312E-11
-33.9764474314828E-11
-3.53.7404754238162E-11
-43.5420734987142E-11
-4.53.3722253882516E-11
-53.2246796553789E-11
-5.53.0949471679165E-11
-62.9797098317078E-11
-6.52.8764550033869E-11
-72.783240371752E-11
-7.52.6985376263138E-11
-82.6211254994141E-11
-8.52.5500147519187E-11
-92.4843944073128E-11
-9.52.4235924688181E-11
-102.367046723758E-11