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 0.008 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]
02.6580313935547E-11
-0.52.0666246317001E-11
-11.7494362809415E-11
-1.51.544244506145E-11
-21.3976216935794E-11
-2.51.286135165473E-11
-31.197675345574E-11
-3.51.1252707375783E-11
-41.0645868442991E-11
-4.51.0127683557099E-11
-59.6784760573864E-12
-5.59.2841863749301E-12
-68.934465404608E-12
-6.58.6215035353902E-12
-78.3392818175301E-12
-7.58.0830764533015E-12
-87.8491211881432E-12
-8.57.6343713864005E-12
-97.4363354721653E-12
-9.57.2529521224327E-12
-107.0824992249746E-12