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 0.004 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]
01.7308642502805E-10
-0.51.3880973366407E-10
-11.1916655082759E-10
-1.51.0603594348785E-10
-29.6466780118743E-11
-2.58.9094330671741E-11
-38.3189153093465E-11
-3.57.8321319010108E-11
-47.4218832940042E-11
-4.57.0700100557025E-11
-56.7638637541476E-11
-5.56.4943276942487E-11
-66.2546424326435E-11
-6.56.0396759005137E-11
-75.8454520014197E-11
-7.55.6688360351563E-11
-85.5073187978698E-11
-8.55.3588647474615E-11
-95.2218029151284E-11
-9.55.0947470318509E-11
-104.9765360517777E-11