Effect of self-capacitance on the tunneling thresholds in linear arrays of nanoparticles

We consider the electron transport through gated one-dimensional chains of ligand stabilized metal nanoparticles. In such systems the self-capacitance of the core can be larger than the interparticle capacitance. In this regime we show that the self-capacitance cannot be neglected and must be included in the calculation of the free energy differences that govern the tunneling thresholds. We demonstrate the consequence of the self-capacitance on the tunneling thresholds of a single nanoparticle device and a chain of six nanoparticles. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.