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 0.001 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]
02.6053490079614E-11
-0.52.0762020663456E-11
-11.7770969894705E-11
-1.51.5785521569057E-11
-21.4344748089478E-11
-2.51.3237911156405E-11
-31.235319591509E-11
-3.51.1625038529901E-11
-41.1012118685933E-11
-4.51.0486931235579E-11
-51.0030363627626E-11
-5.59.6286666473772E-12
-69.2716625753085E-12
-6.58.9516345807989E-12
-78.6626110051334E-12
-7.58.3998886500034E-12
-88.1597061341097E-12
-8.57.9390145034878E-12
-97.7353126286673E-12
-9.57.5465268181458E-12
-107.3709212635048E-12