Calculation of the capacitances of conductors: Perspectives for the optimization of electronic devices

The equation describing the capacitance of capacitors is determined. It is shown that by optimizing the material of the conducting electrodes, the capacitance of capacitors reaching the quantum regime can be substantially enhanced or reduced. Dielectric capacitors with negative total capacitances are suggested and their properties analyzed. Resulting perspectives to enhance the performance of electronic devices are discussed. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3197246]