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]
01.3314501269739E-10
-0.51.0580154534765E-10
-19.0440005537093E-11
-1.58.0274548853018E-11
-27.2911625593573E-11
-2.56.7262372862828E-11
-36.2750911413873E-11
-3.55.9040328893284E-11
-45.591864799735E-11
-4.55.3244947051757E-11
-55.0921404507794E-11
-5.54.8877708592902E-11
-64.7061848182218E-11
-6.54.5434411376857E-11
-74.3964914816513E-11
-7.54.2629360777728E-11
-84.1408564477596E-11
-8.54.0286980125212E-11
-93.9251858990544E-11
-9.53.8292633933233E-11
-103.7400461754079E-11