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 0.009 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]
06.5278140459515E-11
-0.55.1231196875892E-11
-14.3546769358416E-11
-1.53.852803929829E-11
-23.4921515291884E-11
-2.53.2168952716864E-11
-32.9979069988355E-11
-3.52.8183054081042E-11
-42.66754296328E-11
-4.52.5386452997914E-11
-52.4267917895105E-11
-5.52.3285295434164E-11
-62.2413117793266E-11
-6.52.1632133701905E-11
-72.0927484338582E-11
-7.52.0287493460533E-11
-81.9702841399312E-11
-8.51.9165986819499E-11
-91.8670752943869E-11
-9.51.8212025674523E-11
-101.7785529521359E-11