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]
01.0185664021035E-11
-0.57.8510052350132E-12
-16.6214125537682E-12
-1.55.8327608302765E-12
-25.2720413350941E-12
-2.54.8471004627941E-12
-34.5107194156949E-12
-3.54.2358735464136E-12
-44.0058326848476E-12
-4.53.8096123546301E-12
-53.6396626695561E-12
-5.53.4906004692315E-12
-63.3584702437859E-12
-6.53.24029152925E-12
-73.1337701644189E-12
-7.53.0371076181089E-12
-82.9488713058189E-12
-8.52.867904104924E-12
-92.7932597938489E-12
-9.52.7241560713238E-12
-102.659939764629E-12