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 0.002 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]
01.4828572983114E-10
-0.51.1937676181176E-10
-11.0267086812185E-10
-1.59.1455546505302E-11
-28.3260570391653E-11
-2.57.6935540111239E-11
-37.1862764310579E-11
-3.56.7677008117116E-11
-46.4146650443425E-11
-4.56.1116764836798E-11
-55.8479281374986E-11
-5.55.6156211099397E-11
-65.4089671625766E-11
-6.55.2235678386712E-11
-75.0560129040719E-11
-7.54.9036120607723E-11
-84.7642106277162E-11
-8.54.6360597996522E-11
-94.5177233585706E-11
-9.54.408009320857E-11
-104.3059190074831E-11