A unified electrostatic and cavitation model for first-principles molecular dynamics in solution.
The electrostatic continuum solvent model developed by [Fattebert and Gygi J. Comput. Chem. 23, 662 (2002); Int. J. Quantum Chem. 93, 139 (2003)] is combined with a first-principles formulation of the cavitation energy based on a natural quantum-mechanical definition for the surface of a solute. Despite its simplicity, the cavitation contribution calculated by this approach is found to be in remarkable agreement with that obtained by more complex algorithms relying on a large set of parameters. Our model allows for very efficient Car-Parrinello simulations of finite or extended systems in solution and demonstrates a level of accuracy as good as that of established quantum-chemistry continuum solvent methods. We apply this approach to the study of tetracyanoethylene dimers in dichloromethane, providing valuable structural and dynamical insights on the dimerization phenomenon.
Scherlis
Damián A
DA
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA. damian@qi.fcen.uba.ar
Fattebert
Jean-Luc
JL
Gygi
François
F
Cococcioni
Matteo
M
Marzari
Nicola
N