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]
01.7619361000775E-10
-0.51.4071450168445E-10
-11.2056505181094E-10
-1.51.0715800466031E-10
-29.7414850057282E-11
-2.58.9922612160999E-11
-38.3929714727909E-11
-3.57.8994691593774E-11
-47.4838955636691E-11
-4.57.1276876903141E-11
-56.8179362882369E-11
-5.56.5453485957772E-11
-66.3030419851389E-11
-6.56.0857955829888E-11
-75.8895676256567E-11
-7.55.7111737829414E-11
-85.5480666236672E-11
-8.55.3981806679543E-11
-95.2598211544996E-11
-9.55.1315826570887E-11
-105.0122885235274E-11