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 0.008 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]
05.9744022243106E-10
-0.54.7974060049974E-10
-14.1210182802399E-10
-1.53.6682358845284E-10
-23.337973585438E-10
-2.53.0833760061682E-10
-32.8793613131579E-10
-3.52.7111307010349E-10
-42.5693142364422E-10
-4.52.4476523566518E-10
-52.3417830015983E-10
-5.52.2485608372305E-10
-62.1656530199031E-10
-6.52.0912878494803E-10
-72.0240923586564E-10
-7.51.9629838905691E-10
-81.9070956611464E-10
-8.51.8557243943078E-10
-91.8082926896728E-10
-9.51.7643214621864E-10
-101.7234094154548E-10