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 0.004 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]
01.0397622499704E-10
-0.58.2927621452347E-11
-17.1008296541604E-11
-1.56.3089093842783E-11
-25.7339217277527E-11
-2.55.2920379680967E-11
-34.9387374696616E-11
-3.54.6478976824343E-11
-44.4030472344208E-11
-4.54.193217646755E-11
-54.0107849053606E-11
-5.53.8502630680663E-11
-63.7075903774962E-11
-6.53.579686634982E-11
-73.4641678742963E-11
-7.53.3591562706925E-11
-83.2631498630016E-11
-8.53.1749310475001E-11
-93.0935009054002E-11
-9.53.0180311647003E-11
-102.9478284603013E-11