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]
02.7939253610199E-11
-0.52.1800114941793E-11
-11.8482763830779E-11
-1.51.6329043559736E-11
-21.4786812585783E-11
-2.51.3612514525906E-11
-31.2679829937406E-11
-3.51.1915855339142E-11
-41.1275180256957E-11
-4.51.0727848872864E-11
-51.0253194845595E-11
-5.59.8364380532439E-12
-69.4666908117481E-12
-6.59.1357318756409E-12
-78.8372216070217E-12
-7.58.5661821911584E-12
-88.3186432208397E-12
-8.58.0913938646043E-12
-97.8818056978113E-12
-9.57.6877035569193E-12
-107.5072697543319E-12