title: Optimization of a Genetic Algorithm for the Functionalization of Fullerenes.
abstract: We present the optimization of a genetic algorithm (GA) that is designed to predict the most stable structural isomers of hydrogenated and hydroxylated fullerene cages. Density functional theory (DFT) and density functional tight binding (DFTB) methods are both employed to compute isomer energies. We show that DFTB and DFT levels of theory are in good agreement with each other and that therefore both sets of optimized GA parameters are very similar. As a prototypical fullerene cage, we consider the functionalization of the C20 species, since for this smallest possible fullerene cage it is possible to compute all possible isomer energies for evaluation of the GA performance. An energy decomposition analysis for both C20Hn and C20(OH)n systems reveals that, for only few functional groups, the relative stabilities of different structural isomers may be rationalized simply with recourse to π-Hückel theory. However, upon a greater degree of functionalization, π-electronic effects alone are incapable of describing the interaction between the functional groups and the distorted cage, and both σ- and π-electronic structure must be taken into account in order to understand the relative isomer stabilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Australian National University , ACT, 0200, Australia.|Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University , Nagoya 464-4602, Japan.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Addicoat
authors.affiliation: Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University , Kyoto 606-8103, Japan.
authors.forename: Alister J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Page
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Australian National University , ACT, 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: Zoe E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Brain
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University of New South Wales , NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Lloyd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flack
authors.affiliation: Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University , Kyoto 606-8103, Japan.|Cherry L. Emerson Center for Scientic Computation and Department of Chemistry, Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morokuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University , Nagoya 464-4602, Japan.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irle