Classical capacitance of few-electron dielectric spheres

The capacitance of few-electron dielectric spheres differs from the many-electron Gauss model of infinitesimally-divisible charge as a result of the electrostatic interaction of discrete electrons. Minimization of the total classical interaction energy for nanometer-size devices without quantum effects for up to 12 electrons is obtained. Unlike the Gauss model, capacitance is non-constant. The variation of capacitance with N, thus, with voltage, in a non-magnetic, classical domain, opens a new field of discrete charge nanometer-size devices and applies to the general chemistry of nanoparticles.