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]
01.1277113948602E-11
-0.58.8381525452966E-12
-17.5078404447913E-12
-1.56.6402531018748E-12
-26.0173256698138E-12
-2.55.542166406804E-12
-35.1642926378592E-12
-3.54.8544765759485E-12
-44.5944701495459E-12
-4.54.3722140827919E-12
-54.1793768962049E-12
-5.54.0099931860475E-12
-63.8596643459461E-12
-6.53.7250663097118E-12
-73.6036340149367E-12
-7.53.4933521927053E-12
-83.3926125794815E-12
-8.53.3001139858107E-12
-93.2147908049906E-12
-9.53.1357608659182E-12
-103.0622867338036E-12