Applications of Density Functional Theory (DFT) in Various Fields

WHAT IS DENSITY FUNCTIONAL
WHAT IS DENSITY FUNCTIONAL
THEORY?
THEORY?
1.1 EXAMPLES OF DFT IN ACTION
1.1 EXAMPLES OF DFT IN ACTION
1.1.1 
1.1.1 
Ammonia Synthesis by Heterogeneous Catalysis
Ammonia Synthesis by Heterogeneous Catalysis
 The core reaction in ammonia production is very simple:
 The core reaction in ammonia production is very simple:
N
N
2
2
 +3H
 +3H
2
2
 
 
 2NH
 2NH
3
3
Can a direct connection be made between the shape and
Can a direct connection be made between the shape and
size of a metal nanoparticle and its activity as a catalyst for
size of a metal nanoparticle and its activity as a catalyst for
ammonia synthesis?
ammonia synthesis?
2
Honkala and co-workers, using DFT calculations, showed that the net
Honkala and co-workers, using DFT calculations, showed that the net
chemical reaction above proceeds via at least 12 distinct steps on a
chemical reaction above proceeds via at least 12 distinct steps on a
metal catalyst and that the rates of these steps depend strongly on
metal catalyst and that the rates of these steps depend strongly on
the local coordination of the metal atoms that are involved.
the local coordination of the metal atoms that are involved.
O
O
n
n
e
e
 
 
o
o
f
f
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
m
m
o
o
s
s
t
t
 
 
i
i
m
m
p
p
o
o
r
r
t
t
a
a
n
n
t
t
 
 
r
r
e
e
a
a
c
c
t
t
i
i
o
o
n
n
s
s
 
 
i
i
s
s
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
b
b
r
r
e
e
a
a
k
k
i
i
n
n
g
g
 
 
o
o
f
f
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
N
N
2
2
 
 
b
b
o
o
n
n
d
d
o
o
n
n
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
c
c
a
a
t
t
a
a
l
l
y
y
s
s
t
t
 
 
s
s
u
u
r
r
f
f
a
a
c
c
e
e
.
.
 
 
O
O
n
n
 
 
r
r
e
e
g
g
i
i
o
o
n
n
s
s
 
 
o
o
f
f
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
c
c
a
a
t
t
a
a
l
l
y
y
s
s
t
t
 
 
s
s
u
u
r
r
f
f
a
a
c
c
e
e
 
 
t
t
h
h
a
a
t
t
 
 
w
w
e
e
r
r
e
e
s
s
i
i
m
m
i
i
l
l
a
a
r
r
 
 
t
t
o
o
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
s
s
u
u
r
r
f
f
a
a
c
c
e
e
s
s
 
 
o
o
f
f
 
 
b
b
u
u
l
l
k
k
 
 
R
R
u
u
 
 
(
(
m
m
o
o
r
r
e
e
 
 
s
s
p
p
e
e
c
c
i
i
c
c
a
a
l
l
l
l
y
y
,
,
 
 
a
a
t
t
o
o
m
m
i
i
c
c
a
a
l
l
l
l
y
y
 
 
a
a
t
t
r
r
e
e
g
g
i
i
o
o
n
n
s
s
)
)
,
,
a
a
 
 
g
g
r
r
e
e
a
a
t
t
 
 
d
d
e
e
a
a
l
l
 
 
o
o
f
f
 
 
e
e
n
n
e
e
r
r
g
g
y
y
 
 
i
i
s
s
 
 
r
r
e
e
q
q
u
u
i
i
r
r
e
e
d
d
 
 
f
f
o
o
r
r
 
 
t
t
h
h
i
i
s
s
 
 
b
b
o
o
n
n
d
d
-
-
b
b
r
r
e
e
a
a
k
k
i
i
n
n
g
g
r
r
e
e
a
a
c
c
t
t
i
i
o
o
n
n
.
.
3
1.1.2 
1.1.2 
Embrittlement of Metals by Trace Impurities
Embrittlement of Metals by Trace Impurities
It has been known for over 100 years that adding tiny amounts of
It has been known for over 100 years that adding tiny amounts of
certain impurities to copper can change the metal from being ductile
certain impurities to copper can change the metal from being ductile
to a material that will fracture in a brittle way. This occurs, for
to a material that will fracture in a brittle way. This occurs, for
example, when bismuth (Bi) is present in copper(Cu) at levels below
example, when bismuth (Bi) is present in copper(Cu) at levels below
100 ppm.
100 ppm.
Can the changes in copper caused by Bi be explained in a
Can the changes in copper caused by Bi be explained in a
detailed way?
detailed way?
4
Schweinfest, Paxton, and Finnis used DFT calculations to
Schweinfest, Paxton, and Finnis used DFT calculations to
offer a definitive description of how Bi embrittles copper.
offer a definitive description of how Bi embrittles copper.
They first used DFT to 
They first used DFT to 
predict stress–strain relationships
predict stress–strain relationships
for pure Cu and Cu containing Bi atoms as impurities
for pure Cu and Cu containing Bi atoms as impurities
. They
. They
explicitly calculated 
explicitly calculated 
the cohesion energy of a particular
the cohesion energy of a particular
grain boundary 
grain boundary 
that is known experimentally to be
that is known experimentally to be
embrittled by Bi.
embrittled by Bi.
5
1.1.3 
1.1.3 
Materials Properties for Modeling Planetary Formation
Materials Properties for Modeling Planetary Formation
The extreme conditions that exist inside planets pose some
The extreme conditions that exist inside planets pose some
obvious challenges to probing these topics in laboratory
obvious challenges to probing these topics in laboratory
experiments.
experiments.
DFT calculations can play a useful role in probing material
DFT calculations can play a useful role in probing material
properties at these extreme conditions.
properties at these extreme conditions.
6
Umemoto et al. wanted to understand what happens to the
Umemoto et al. wanted to understand what happens to the
structure of MgSiO
structure of MgSiO
3
3
 at conditions much more extreme than
 at conditions much more extreme than
those found in Earth’s core–mantle boundary.
those found in Earth’s core–mantle boundary.
These calculations predicted that at pressures of ~11 Mbar,
These calculations predicted that at pressures of ~11 Mbar,
MgSiO
MgSiO
3
3
 dissociates in the following way:
 dissociates in the following way:
MgSiO
MgSiO
3
3
 [CaIrO
 [CaIrO
3
3
 structure] 
 structure] 
 MgO [CsCl structure]
 MgO [CsCl structure]
                                         + SiO
                                         + SiO
2
2
 [cotunnite structure].
 [cotunnite structure].
7
These transformations in the structures of MgO and SiO
These transformations in the structures of MgO and SiO
2
2
allow an important connection to be made 
allow an important connection to be made 
between DFT
between DFT
calculations and experiments
calculations and experiments
 since these transformations
 since these transformations
occur at conditions that can be directly probed in
occur at conditions that can be directly probed in
laboratory experiments.
laboratory experiments.
The transition pressures  predicted using DFT and
The transition pressures  predicted using DFT and
observed experimentally are in good agreement, giving a
observed experimentally are in good agreement, giving a
strong indication of the accuracy of these calculations.
strong indication of the accuracy of these calculations.
8
1.2 THE  SCHR
1.2 THE  SCHR
ö
ö
DINGER EQUATION
DINGER EQUATION
Since the 
Since the 
mass
mass
 of the nucleus is much 
 of the nucleus is much 
larger
larger
 than the
 than the
mass of the electron, the 
mass of the electron, the 
response
response
 of electrons to
 of electrons to
environmental changes is much 
environmental changes is much 
faster
faster
 than that of
 than that of
nucleus.
nucleus.
As a result, we can split our physical question into 
As a result, we can split our physical question into 
two
two
pieces
pieces
. First, we solve, for fixed positions of the atomic
. First, we solve, for fixed positions of the atomic
nuclei, the equations that describe the electron motion.
nuclei, the equations that describe the electron motion.
For a given set of electrons moving in the field of a set of
For a given set of electrons moving in the field of a set of
nuclei, we find the lowest energy configuration, or state,
nuclei, we find the lowest energy configuration, or state,
of the electrons.
of the electrons.
9
If we have M nuclei at positions R1, . . . , RM,
If we have M nuclei at positions R1, . . . , RM,
we can express the ground-state energy, E, as a function of
we can express the ground-state energy, E, as a function of
the positions of these nuclei, E(R1, . . . , RM)
the positions of these nuclei, E(R1, . . . , RM)
we are able to calculate this potential energy surface we can
we are able to calculate this potential energy surface we can
tackle the original problem posed above—
tackle the original problem posed above—
how does the
how does the
energy of the material change as we move its atoms
energy of the material change as we move its atoms
around?
around?
10
11
Here, m is the electron mass. For the Hamiltonian we have
Here, m is the electron mass. For the Hamiltonian we have
chosen, c is the electronic wave function, which is a function
chosen, c is the electronic wave function, which is a function
of each of the spatial coordinates of each of the N electrons,
of each of the spatial coordinates of each of the N electrons,
so c ¼ c(r1, . . . , rN), and E is the groundstate energy of the
so c ¼ c(r1, . . . , rN), and E is the groundstate energy of the
electrons.
electrons.
 
Schrödinger equation under the interaction system of multiple 
Schrödinger equation under the interaction system of multiple 
electrons and polyatomic nucleus
electrons and polyatomic nucleus
The quantity of physical interest is really the probability
The quantity of physical interest is really the probability
that a set of N electrons in any order have coordinates r1, . .
that a set of N electrons in any order have coordinates r1, . .
.rN. A closely related quantity is the density of electrons at
.rN. A closely related quantity is the density of electrons at
a particular position in space, n(r). This can be written in
a particular position in space, n(r). This can be written in
terms of the individual electron wave functions as
terms of the individual electron wave functions as
The point of this discussion is that the electron density, 
The point of this discussion is that the electron density, 
n(r)
n(r)
contains a great amount of the information 
contains a great amount of the information 
that is actually
that is actually
physically observable from the full wave function solution
physically observable from the full wave function solution
to the Schrödinger equation.
to the Schrödinger equation.
12
1.3 DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY—FROM WAVE
1.3 DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY—FROM WAVE
FUNCTIONS TO ELECTRON DENSITY
FUNCTIONS TO ELECTRON DENSITY
The entire field of density functional theory rests on 
The entire field of density functional theory rests on 
two
two
fundamental mathematical theorems 
fundamental mathematical theorems 
proved by Kohn and
proved by Kohn and
Hohenberg and the derivation of 
Hohenberg and the derivation of 
a set of equations
a set of equations
 by
 by
Kohn and Sham.
Kohn and Sham.
The first theorem is: 
The first theorem is: 
The ground-state energy from
The ground-state energy from
Schrödinger’s equation is a unique functional of
Schrödinger’s equation is a unique functional of
the electron density.
the electron density.
13
This theorem states that there exists a one-to-one mapping
This theorem states that there exists a one-to-one mapping
between the ground-state wave function and the ground-
between the ground-state wave function and the ground-
state electron density.
state electron density.
we can restate Hohenberg and Kohn’s result by saying
we can restate Hohenberg and Kohn’s result by saying
that the ground-state energy E can be expressed as E[n(r)],
that the ground-state energy E can be expressed as E[n(r)],
where n(r) is the electron density.
where n(r) is the electron density.
Another way to restate Hohenberg and Kohn’s result is
Another way to restate Hohenberg and Kohn’s result is
that the ground-state electron density uniquely determines
that the ground-state electron density uniquely determines
all properties, including the energy and wave function, of
all properties, including the energy and wave function, of
the ground state.
the ground state.
14
Why is this result important?
Why is this result important?
It means that we can think about solving the
It means that we can think about solving the
Schrödinger equation by finding a function of
Schrödinger equation by finding a function of
three spatial variables, the electron density,
three spatial variables, the electron density,
rather than a function of 3N variables, the
rather than a function of 3N variables, the
wave function.
wave function.
15
The second Hohenberg–Kohn theorem defines an
The second Hohenberg–Kohn theorem defines an
important property of the functional: 
important property of the functional: 
The electron
The electron
density that minimizes the energy of the overall
density that minimizes the energy of the overall
functional is the true electron density corresponding
functional is the true electron density corresponding
to the full solution of the Schrödinger equation.
to the full solution of the Schrödinger equation.
16
The energy functional can be written as 
The energy functional can be written as 
Where we have split the functional into a collection of
Where we have split the functional into a collection of
terms we can write down in a simple analytical form,
terms we can write down in a simple analytical form,
E
E
known
known
[{
[{
Ψ
i
i
}], and everything else, E
}], and everything else, E
XC
XC
. The“known” terms
. The“known” terms
include four contributions:
include four contributions:
17
The terms on the right are, in order, 
The terms on the right are, in order, 
the electron kinetic
the electron kinetic
energies
energies
, 
, 
the Coulomb interactions between the electrons
the Coulomb interactions between the electrons
and the nuclei
and the nuclei
, 
, 
the Coulomb interactions between pairs of
the Coulomb interactions between pairs of
electrons
electrons
, 
, 
and the Coulomb interactions between pairs of
and the Coulomb interactions between pairs of
Nuclei
Nuclei
.
.
The other term in the complete energy functional, 
The other term in the complete energy functional, 
E
E
XC
XC
[{
[{
Ψ
Ψ
i
i
}],
}],
is the exchange–correlation functional
is the exchange–correlation functional
, and it is defined to
, and it is defined to
include all the quantum mechanical effects that are not
include all the quantum mechanical effects that are not
included in the “known” terms.
included in the “known” terms.
18
Let us imagine for now that we can express the as-yet-
Let us imagine for now that we can express the as-yet-
undefined exchange–correlation energy functional in some
undefined exchange–correlation energy functional in some
useful way. 
useful way. 
What is involved in finding minimum energy
What is involved in finding minimum energy
solutions of the total energy functional?
solutions of the total energy functional?
This difficulty was solved by Kohn and Sham, who showed
This difficulty was solved by Kohn and Sham, who showed
that 
that 
the task of finding the right electron density 
the task of finding the right electron density 
can be
can be
expressed in a way that involves solving a set of equations
expressed in a way that involves solving a set of equations
in which each equation 
in which each equation 
only involves a single electron
only involves a single electron
.
.
19
The Kohn–Sham equations have the form
The Kohn–Sham equations have the form
On the left-hand side of the Kohn–Sham equations there
On the left-hand side of the Kohn–Sham equations there
are three potentials, 
are three potentials, 
V
V
, 
, 
V
V
H
H
, and 
, and 
V
V
XC
XC
.
.
20
V 
V 
 
 
T
T
h
h
e
e
 
 
f
f
i
i
r
r
s
s
t
t
 
 
o
o
f
f
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
s
s
e
e
 
 
a
a
l
l
s
s
o
o
 
 
a
a
p
p
p
p
e
e
a
a
r
r
e
e
d
d
 
 
i
i
n
n
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
f
f
u
u
l
l
l
l
 
 
S
S
c
c
h
h
r
r
ö
ö
d
d
i
i
n
n
g
g
e
e
r
r
e
e
q
q
u
u
a
a
t
t
i
i
o
o
n
n
 
 
a
a
n
n
d
d
 
 
i
i
n
n
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
k
k
n
n
o
o
w
w
n
n
 
 
p
p
a
a
r
r
t
t
 
 
o
o
f
f
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
t
t
o
o
t
t
a
a
l
l
 
 
e
e
n
n
e
e
r
r
g
g
y
y
f
f
u
u
n
n
c
c
t
t
i
i
o
o
n
n
a
a
l
l
 
 
g
g
i
i
v
v
e
e
n
n
 
 
a
a
b
b
o
o
v
v
e
e
.
.
 
 
T
T
h
h
i
i
s
s
 
 
p
p
o
o
t
t
e
e
n
n
t
t
i
i
a
a
l
l
 
 
d
d
e
e
f
f
i
i
n
n
e
e
s
s
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
i
i
n
n
t
t
e
e
r
r
a
a
c
c
t
t
i
i
o
o
n
n
 
 
b
b
e
e
t
t
w
w
e
e
e
e
n
n
 
 
a
a
n
n
 
 
e
e
l
l
e
e
c
c
t
t
r
r
o
o
n
n
 
 
a
a
n
n
d
d
 
 
t
t
h
h
e
e
 
 
c
c
o
o
l
l
l
l
e
e
c
c
t
t
i
i
o
o
n
n
 
 
o
o
f
f
a
a
t
t
o
o
m
m
i
i
c
c
 
 
n
n
u
u
c
c
l
l
e
e
i
i
.
.
21
V
V
H
H
The second is called the Hartree potential and is defined by
The second is called the Hartree potential and is defined by
The Hartree potential includes a socalled self-interaction
The Hartree potential includes a socalled self-interaction
contribution because the electron we are describing in the
contribution because the electron we are describing in the
Kohn–Sham equation is also part of the total electron
Kohn–Sham equation is also part of the total electron
density, so part of V
density, so part of V
H
H
 involves a Coulomb interaction
 involves a Coulomb interaction
between the electron and itself.
between the electron and itself.
22
V
V
XC
XC
 
 
can formally be defined as a “functional derivative”
can formally be defined as a “functional derivative”
of the exchange–correlation energy:
of the exchange–correlation energy:
23
If you have a vague sense that there is something
If you have a vague sense that there is something
circular about our discussion of the Kohn–Sham
circular about our discussion of the Kohn–Sham
equations you are exactly right.
equations you are exactly right.
To break this circle, the problem is usually treated in
To break this circle, the problem is usually treated in
an iterative way as outlined in the following
an iterative way as outlined in the following
algorithm:
algorithm:
24
25
4. Compare the calculated electron density, n
4. Compare the calculated electron density, n
KS
KS
(r),
(r),
with the electron density used in solving the Kohn–
with the electron density used in solving the Kohn–
Sham equations, n(r). If the two densities are the
Sham equations, n(r). If the two densities are the
same, then this is the ground-state electron density,
same, then this is the ground-state electron density,
and it can be used to compute the total energy. If
and it can be used to compute the total energy. If
the two densities are different, then the trial
the two densities are different, then the trial
electron density must be updated in some way.
electron density must be updated in some way.
Once this is done, the process begins again from
Once this is done, the process begins again from
step 2.
step 2.
26
1.4 EXCHANGE–CORRELATION
1.4 EXCHANGE–CORRELATION
FUNCTIONAL
FUNCTIONAL
Local Density Approximation , LDA
Local Density Approximation , LDA
we set the exchange–correlation potential at each position
we set the exchange–correlation potential at each position
to be the known exchange–correlation potential from the
to be the known exchange–correlation potential from the
uniform electron gas at the electron density observed at
uniform electron gas at the electron density observed at
that position:
that position:
This approximation uses only the local density to define the
This approximation uses only the local density to define the
approximate exchange–correlation functional.
approximate exchange–correlation functional.
27
The LDA gives us a way to completely define the Kohn–
The LDA gives us a way to completely define the Kohn–
Sham equations, but it is crucial to remember that the
Sham equations, but it is crucial to remember that the
results from these equations 
results from these equations 
do not exactly solve the true
do not exactly solve the true
Schrödinger equation
Schrödinger equation
 because we are not using the true
 because we are not using the true
exchange–correlation functional.
exchange–correlation functional.
28
It should not surprise you that the 
It should not surprise you that the 
LDA is not the only
LDA is not the only
functional
functional
 that has been tried within DFT calculations. The
 that has been tried within DFT calculations. The
development of functionals that more faithfully represent
development of functionals that more faithfully represent
nature remains one of the most important areas of active
nature remains one of the most important areas of active
research in the quantum chemistry community.
research in the quantum chemistry community.
29
Generalized Gradient Approximation , GGA
Generalized Gradient Approximation , GGA
Two of the most widely used functionals in calculations
Two of the most widely used functionals in calculations
involving solids are the Perdew–Wang functional (PW91)
involving solids are the Perdew–Wang functional (PW91)
and the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof functional (PBE). Each of
and the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof functional (PBE). Each of
these functionals are GGA functionals, and dozens of other
these functionals are GGA functionals, and dozens of other
GGA functionals have been developed and used,
GGA functionals have been developed and used,
particularly for calculations with isolated molecules.
particularly for calculations with isolated molecules.
30
1.5 THE QUANTUM CHEMISTRY
1.5 THE QUANTUM CHEMISTRY
TOURIST
TOURIST
As you read about the approaches aside from DFT that exist
As you read about the approaches aside from DFT that exist
for finding numerical solutions of the Schrödinger
for finding numerical solutions of the Schrödinger
equation, it is likely that you will rapidly encounter a
equation, it is likely that you will rapidly encounter a
bewildering array of acronyms.
bewildering array of acronyms.
This section aims to present an overview of quantum
This section aims to present an overview of quantum
chemical methods on the level of a phrase book or travel
chemical methods on the level of a phrase book or travel
guide.
guide.
31
1.5.1 Localized and Spatially Extended Functions
1.5.1 Localized and Spatially Extended Functions
As an example of a spatially localized function, Fig. 1.1
As an example of a spatially localized function, Fig. 1.1
shows the function
shows the function
32
33
We could include more information in this final function by
We could include more information in this final function by
including more individual functions within its definition.
including more individual functions within its definition.
Also, we could build up functions that describe multiple
Also, we could build up functions that describe multiple
atoms simply by using an appropriate set of localized
atoms simply by using an appropriate set of localized
functions for each individual atom.
functions for each individual atom.
34
What if we are interested in a bulk material such as the
What if we are interested in a bulk material such as the
atoms in solid silicon or the atoms beneath the surface of a
atoms in solid silicon or the atoms beneath the surface of a
metal catalyst?
metal catalyst?
A useful alternative is to use periodic functions to describe
A useful alternative is to use periodic functions to describe
the wave functions or electron densities.
the wave functions or electron densities.
35
36
Figure 1.2 shows a simple example of this idea by plotting:
Figure 1.2 shows a simple example of this idea by plotting:
The resulting function is periodic; that is
The resulting function is periodic; that is
37
1.5.2 Hartree–Fock Method
1.5.2 Hartree–Fock Method
Suppose we would like to approximate the wave function of
Suppose we would like to approximate the wave function of
N electrons. Let us assume for the moment that the
N electrons. Let us assume for the moment that the
electrons have no effect on each other. If this is true, the
electrons have no effect on each other. If this is true, the
Hamiltonian for the electrons may be written as
Hamiltonian for the electrons may be written as
where h
where h
i
i
 describes the kinetic and potential energy of
 describes the kinetic and potential energy of
electron i.
electron i.
38
If we write down the Schrödinger equation for just one
If we write down the Schrödinger equation for just one
electron based on this Hamiltonian, the solutions would
electron based on this Hamiltonian, the solutions would
satisfy :
satisfy :
The eigenfunctions defined by this equation are called 
The eigenfunctions defined by this equation are called 
spin
spin
orbitals
orbitals
.
.
39
When the total Hamiltonian is simply a sum of one-electron
When the total Hamiltonian is simply a sum of one-electron
operators, h
operators, h
i
i
, it follows that the eigenfunctions of H are
, it follows that the eigenfunctions of H are
products of the one-electron spin orbitals:
products of the one-electron spin orbitals:
The energy of this wave function is the sum of the spin
The energy of this wave function is the sum of the spin
orbital energies, E = E
orbital energies, E = E
j1
j1
+…+E
+…+E
jN
jN
 .
 .
40
Electrons are fermions, the wave function must change sign
Electrons are fermions, the wave function must change sign
if two electrons change places with each other. Exchanging
if two electrons change places with each other. Exchanging
two electrons does not change the sign of the Hartree
two electrons does not change the sign of the Hartree
product, which is a serious drawback.
product, which is a serious drawback.
We can obtain a better approximation to the wave function
We can obtain a better approximation to the wave function
by using 
by using 
a Slater determinant
a Slater determinant
.
.
41
42
In a Hartree–Fock (HF) calculation, we fix the positions of
In a Hartree–Fock (HF) calculation, we fix the positions of
the atomic nuclei and aim to determine the wave function
the atomic nuclei and aim to determine the wave function
of N-interacting electrons. The Schrödinger equation for
of N-interacting electrons. The Schrödinger equation for
each electron is written as
each electron is written as
43
How to express the solution of the above single
How to express the solution of the above single
electron equation? How do you combine these
electron equation? How do you combine these
solutions into N electron wave functions?
solutions into N electron wave functions?
44
To do this, we define a finite set of functions that can be
To do this, we define a finite set of functions that can be
added together to approximate the exact spin orbitals. If
added together to approximate the exact spin orbitals. If
our finite set of functions is written as 
our finite set of functions is written as 
Φ
Φ
1
1
(x), 
(x), 
Φ
Φ
2
2
(x),…,
(x),…,
Φ
Φ
K
K
(x),
(x),
then we can approximate the spin orbitals as:
then we can approximate the spin orbitals as:
45
When using this expression, we only need to find the
When using this expression, we only need to find the
expansion coefficients, a
expansion coefficients, a
j,i
j,i
, for i 1, . . . , K and j 1, . . . , N to
, for i 1, . . . , K and j 1, . . . , N to
fully define all the spin orbitals that are used in the HF
fully define all the spin orbitals that are used in the HF
method. The set of functions 
method. The set of functions 
Φ
Φ
1
1
(x), 
(x), 
Φ
Φ
2
2
(x), . . . , 
(x), . . . , 
Φ
Φ
K
K
(x) is
(x) is
called the 
called the 
basis set 
basis set 
for the calculation.
for the calculation.
46
Like solving the Kohn-Sham equation, an HF calculation is
Like solving the Kohn-Sham equation, an HF calculation is
an iterative procedure that can be outlined as follows:
an iterative procedure that can be outlined as follows:
1.
Make an initial estimate of the spin orbitals
Make an initial estimate of the spin orbitals
by specifying the expansion coefficients, a
by specifying the expansion coefficients, a
j,i.
j,i.
2. From the current estimate of the spin orbitals, define the
2. From the current estimate of the spin orbitals, define the
electron density, n(r`):
electron density, n(r`):
3. Using the electron density from step 2, solve the single-
3. Using the electron density from step 2, solve the single-
electron equations for the spin orbitals.
electron equations for the spin orbitals.
47
4. If the spin orbitals found in step 3 are consistent with
4. If the spin orbitals found in step 3 are consistent with
orbitals used in step 2, then these are the solutions to the
orbitals used in step 2, then these are the solutions to the
HF problem we set out to calculate. If not, then a new
HF problem we set out to calculate. If not, then a new
estimate for the spin orbitals must be made and we then
estimate for the spin orbitals must be made and we then
return to step 2.
return to step 2.
48
1
1
.
.
5
5
.
.
4
4
 
 
B
B
e
e
y
y
o
o
n
n
d
d
 
 
H
H
a
a
r
r
t
t
r
r
e
e
e
e
F
F
o
o
c
c
k
k
How do more advanced quantum chemical approaches
How do more advanced quantum chemical approaches
improve on the HF method?
improve on the HF method?
The approaches vary, but the common goal is to
The approaches vary, but the common goal is to
include a description of electron correlation.
include a description of electron correlation.
Methods based on a single reference determinant
Methods based on a single reference determinant
are formally known as “post–Hartree–Fock”
are formally known as “post–Hartree–Fock”
methods.
methods.
49
The classification of wave-function-based methods has two
The classification of wave-function-based methods has two
distinct components: 
distinct components: 
the level of theory 
the level of theory 
and 
and 
the basis set
the basis set
.
.
To illustrate the role of the level of theory and the basis set,
To illustrate the role of the level of theory and the basis set,
we will look at two properties of a molecule of CH
we will look at two properties of a molecule of CH
4
4
, the C–H
, the C–H
bond length and the ionization energy. Experimentally, the
bond length and the ionization energy. Experimentally, the
C–H bond length is 1.094A˚ and the ionization energy for
C–H bond length is 1.094A˚ and the ionization energy for
methane is 12.61 eV.
methane is 12.61 eV.
50
51
52
The classification of wave-function-based methods has two
The classification of wave-function-based methods has two
distinct components: 
distinct components: 
the level of theory 
the level of theory 
and 
and 
the basis set
the basis set
.
.
To illustrate the role of the level of theory and the basis set,
To illustrate the role of the level of theory and the basis set,
we will look at two properties of a molecule of CH
we will look at two properties of a molecule of CH
4
4
, the C–H
, the C–H
bond length and the ionization energy. Experimentally, the
bond length and the ionization energy. Experimentally, the
C–H bond length is 1.094A˚ and the ionization energy for
C–H bond length is 1.094A˚ and the ionization energy for
methane is 12.61 eV.
methane is 12.61 eV.
53
1.7 WHAT CAN DFT NOT DO?
1.7 WHAT CAN DFT NOT DO?
There are some important situations for which DFT cannot
There are some important situations for which DFT cannot
be expected to be physically accurate.
be expected to be physically accurate.
The first situation where DFT calculations have limited
The first situation where DFT calculations have limited
accuracy is in the calculation of electronic excited states.
accuracy is in the calculation of electronic excited states.
The second case is that the bandgap of the
The second case is that the bandgap of the
semiconductor and insulator materials obtained in the
semiconductor and insulator materials obtained in the
DFT calculation is underestimated.
DFT calculation is underestimated.
54
The weak attraction of van der Waals (vdW)
The weak attraction of van der Waals (vdW)
between atoms and molecules leads to
between atoms and molecules leads to
inaccuracies in calculation results.
inaccuracies in calculation results.
The atomic magnitude in the calculation cannot
The atomic magnitude in the calculation cannot
match the actual atomic magnitude.
match the actual atomic magnitude.
55
Slide Note
Embed
Share

Density Functional Theory (DFT) is a powerful computational tool used in various scientific fields to understand complex chemical and physical phenomena. This theory allows for detailed analysis and prediction of material properties, reactions, and structures at the atomic level. Through the examples of ammonia synthesis, embrittlement of metals, and modeling planetary materials, the significance and versatility of DFT calculations are demonstrated. Researchers utilize DFT to study catalyst activities, material embrittlement mechanisms, and extreme conditions inside planets, providing valuable insights into fundamental processes.

  • Density Functional Theory
  • DFT
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Material Properties
  • Computational Chemistry

Uploaded on Sep 26, 2024 | 0 Views


Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. WHAT IS DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY?

  2. 1.1 EXAMPLES OF DFT IN ACTION 1.1.1 Ammonia Synthesis by Heterogeneous Catalysis The core reaction in ammonia production is very simple: N2+3H2 2NH3 Can a direct connection be made between the shape and size of a metal nanoparticle and its activity as a catalyst for ammonia synthesis? 2

  3. Honkala and co-workers, using DFT calculations, showed that the net chemical reaction above proceeds via at least 12 distinct steps on a metal catalyst and that the rates of these steps depend strongly on the local coordination of the metal atoms that are involved. One of the most important reactions is the breaking of the N2bond on the catalyst surface. On regions of the catalyst surface that were similar to the surfaces of bulk Ru (more specifically, atomically flat regions),a great deal of energy is required for this bond-breaking reaction. 3

  4. 1.1.2 Embrittlement of Metals by Trace Impurities It has been known for over 100 years that adding tiny amounts of certain impurities to copper can change the metal from being ductile to a material that will fracture in a brittle way. This occurs, for example, when bismuth (Bi) is present in copper(Cu) at levels below 100 ppm. Can the changes in copper caused by Bi be explained in a detailed way? 4

  5. Schweinfest, Paxton, and Finnis used DFT calculations to offer a definitive description of how Bi embrittles copper. They first used DFT to predict stress strain relationships for pure Cu and Cu containing Bi atoms as impurities. They explicitly calculated the cohesion energy of a particular grain boundary that is known embrittled by Bi. experimentally to be 5

  6. 1.1.3 Materials Properties for Modeling Planetary Formation The extreme conditions that exist inside planets pose some obvious challenges to probing these topics in laboratory experiments. DFT calculations can play a useful role in probing material properties at these extreme conditions. 6

  7. Umemoto et al. wanted to understand what happens to the structure of MgSiO3at conditions much more extreme than those found in Earth s core mantle boundary. These calculations predicted that at pressures of ~11 Mbar, MgSiO3dissociates in the following way: MgSiO3[CaIrO3structure] MgO [CsCl structure] + SiO2[cotunnite structure]. 7

  8. These transformations in the structures of MgO and SiO2 allow an important connection to be made between DFT calculations and experiments since these transformations occur at conditions that can be directly probed in laboratory experiments. The observed experimentally are in good agreement, giving a strong indication of the accuracy of these calculations. transition pressures predicted using DFT and 8

  9. 1.2 THE SCHRDINGER EQUATION Since the mass of the nucleus is much larger than the mass of the electron, the response of electrons to environmental changes is much faster than that of nucleus. As a result, we can split our physical question into two pieces. First, we solve, for fixed positions of the atomic nuclei, the equations that describe the electron motion. For a given set of electrons moving in the field of a set of nuclei, we find the lowest energy configuration, or state, of the electrons. 9

  10. If we have M nuclei at positions R1, . . . , RM, we can express the ground-state energy, E, as a function of the positions of these nuclei, E(R1, . . . , RM) we are able to calculate this potential energy surface we can tackle the original problem posed above how does the energy of the material change as we move its atoms around? 10

  11. Schrdinger equation under the interaction system of multiple electrons and polyatomic nucleus Here, m is the electron mass. For the Hamiltonian we have chosen, c is the electronic wave function, which is a function of each of the spatial coordinates of each of the N electrons, so c c(r1, . . . , rN), and E is the groundstate energy of the electrons. 11

  12. The quantity of physical interest is really the probability that a set of N electrons in any order have coordinates r1, . . .rN. A closely related quantity is the density of electrons at a particular position in space, n(r). This can be written in terms of the individual electron wave functions as The point of this discussion is that the electron density, n(r) contains a great amount of the information that is actually physically observable from the full wave function solution to the Schr dinger equation. 12

  13. 1.3 DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORYFROM WAVE FUNCTIONS TO ELECTRON DENSITY The entire field of density functional theory rests on two fundamental mathematical theorems proved by Kohn and Hohenberg and the derivation of a set of equations by Kohn and Sham. The first theorem is: The ground-state energy from Schr dinger s equation is a unique functional of the electron density. 13

  14. This theorem states that there exists a one-to-one mapping between the ground-state wave function and the ground- state electron density. we can restate Hohenberg and Kohn s result by saying that the ground-state energy E can be expressed as E[n(r)], where n(r) is the electron density. Another way to restate Hohenberg and Kohn s result is that the ground-state electron density uniquely determines all properties, including the energy and wave function, of the ground state. 14

  15. Why is this result important? It means that we can think about solving the Schr dinger equation by finding a function of three spatial variables, the electron density, rather than a function of 3N variables, the wave function. 15

  16. The second HohenbergKohn theorem defines an important property of the functional: The electron density that minimizes the energy of the overall functional is the true electron density corresponding to the full solution of the Schr dinger equation. 16

  17. The energy functional can be written as Where we have split the functional into a collection of terms we can write down in a simple analytical form, Eknown[{ i}], and everything else, EXC. The known terms include four contributions: 17

  18. The terms on the right are, in order, the electron kinetic energies, the Coulomb interactions between the electrons and the nuclei, the Coulomb interactions between pairs of electrons, and the Coulomb interactions between pairs of Nuclei. The other term in the complete energy functional, EXC[{ i}], is the exchange correlation functional, and it is defined to include all the quantum mechanical effects that are not included in the known terms. 18

  19. Let us imagine for now that we can express the as-yet- undefined exchange correlation energy functional in some useful way. What is involved in finding minimum energy solutions of the total energy functional? This difficulty was solved by Kohn and Sham, who showed that the task of finding the right electron density can be expressed in a way that involves solving a set of equations in which each equation only involves a single electron. 19

  20. The KohnSham equations have the form On the left-hand side of the Kohn Sham equations there are three potentials, V, VH, and VXC. 20

  21. V The first of these also appeared in the full Schr dinger equation and in the known part of the total energy functional given above. This potential defines the interaction between an electron and the collection of atomic nuclei. 21

  22. VH The second is called the Hartree potential and is defined by The Hartree potential includes a socalled self-interaction contribution because the electron we are describing in the Kohn Sham equation is also part of the total electron density, so part of VH involves a Coulomb interaction between the electron and itself. 22

  23. VXCcan formally be defined as a functional derivative of the exchange correlation energy: 23

  24. If you have a vague sense that there is something circular about our discussion of the Kohn Sham equations you are exactly right. To break this circle, the problem is usually treated in an iterative way as outlined algorithm: in the following 24

  25. 1. Define an initial, trial electron density, n(r). 2. Solve the Kohn Sham equations defined using the trial electron density to find the single-particle wave functions, i(r). 3. Calculate the electron density defined by the Kohn Sham singleparticle wave functions from step 2, nKS(r) = 2 ??? (r)??(r). 25

  26. 4. Compare the calculated electron density, nKS(r), with the electron density used in solving the Kohn Sham equations, n(r). If the two densities are the same, then this is the ground-state electron density, and it can be used to compute the total energy. If the two densities are different, then the trial electron density must be updated in some way. Once this is done, the process begins again from step 2. 26

  27. 1.4 EXCHANGECORRELATION FUNCTIONAL Local Density Approximation , LDA we set the exchange correlation potential at each position to be the known exchange correlation potential from the uniform electron gas at the electron density observed at that position: This approximation uses only the local density to define the approximate exchange correlation functional. 27

  28. The LDA gives us a way to completely define the Kohn Sham equations, but it is crucial to remember that the results from these equations do not exactly solve the true Schr dinger equation because we are not using the true exchange correlation functional. 28

  29. It should not surprise you that the LDA is not the only functional that has been tried within DFT calculations. The development of functionals that more faithfully represent nature remains one of the most important areas of active research in the quantum chemistry community. 29

  30. Generalized Gradient Approximation , GGA Two of the most widely used functionals in calculations involving solids are the Perdew Wang functional (PW91) and the Perdew Burke Ernzerhof functional (PBE). Each of these functionals are GGA functionals, and dozens of other GGA functionals have been particularly for calculations with isolated molecules. developed and used, 30

  31. 1.5 THE QUANTUM CHEMISTRY TOURIST As you read about the approaches aside from DFT that exist for finding numerical solutions equation, it is likely that you will rapidly encounter a bewildering array of acronyms. This section aims to present an overview of quantum chemical methods on the level of a phrase book or travel guide. of the Schr dinger 31

  32. 1.5.1 Localized and Spatially Extended Functions As an example of a spatially localized function, Fig. 1.1 shows the function 32

  33. 33

  34. We could include more information in this final function by including more individual functions within its definition. Also, we could build up functions that describe multiple atoms simply by using an appropriate set of localized functions for each individual atom. 34

  35. What if we are interested in a bulk material such as the atoms in solid silicon or the atoms beneath the surface of a metal catalyst? A useful alternative is to use periodic functions to describe the wave functions or electron densities. 35

  36. 36

  37. Figure 1.2 shows a simple example of this idea by plotting: The resulting function is periodic; that is 37

  38. 1.5.2 HartreeFock Method Suppose we would like to approximate the wave function of N electrons. Let us assume for the moment that the electrons have no effect on each other. If this is true, the Hamiltonian for the electrons may be written as where hidescribes the kinetic and potential energy of electron i. 38

  39. If we write down the Schrdinger equation for just one electron based on this Hamiltonian, the solutions would satisfy : The eigenfunctions defined by this equation are called spin orbitals. 39

  40. When the total Hamiltonian is simply a sum of one-electron operators, hi, it follows that the eigenfunctions of H are products of the one-electron spin orbitals: The energy of this wave function is the sum of the spin orbital energies, E = Ej1+ +EjN. 40

  41. Electrons are fermions, the wave function must change sign if two electrons change places with each other. Exchanging two electrons does not change the sign of the Hartree product, which is a serious drawback. We can obtain a better approximation to the wave function by using a Slater determinant. 41

  42. For two electrons, the Slater determinant is The coefficient of (1/ 2) is simply a normalization factor. 42

  43. In a HartreeFock (HF) calculation, we fix the positions of the atomic nuclei and aim to determine the wave function of N-interacting electrons. The Schr dinger equation for each electron is written as 43

  44. How to express the solution of the above single electron equation? How do you combine these solutions into N electron wave functions? 44

  45. To do this, we define a finite set of functions that can be added together to approximate the exact spin orbitals. If our finite set of functions is written as 1(x), 2(x), , K(x), then we can approximate the spin orbitals as: 45

  46. When using this expression, we only need to find the expansion coefficients, aj,i, for i 1, . . . , K and j 1, . . . , N to fully define all the spin orbitals that are used in the HF method. The set of functions 1(x), 2(x), . . . , K(x) is called the basis set for the calculation. 46

  47. Like solving the Kohn-Sham equation, an HF calculation is an iterative procedure that can be outlined as follows: 1. Make an initial estimate of the spin orbitals by specifying the expansion coefficients, aj,i. 2. From the current estimate of the spin orbitals, define the electron density, n(r`): 3. Using the electron density from step 2, solve the single- electron equations for the spin orbitals. 47

  48. 4. If the spin orbitals found in step 3 are consistent with orbitals used in step 2, then these are the solutions to the HF problem we set out to calculate. If not, then a new estimate for the spin orbitals must be made and we then return to step 2. 48

  49. 1.5.4 Beyond HartreeFock How do more advanced quantum chemical approaches improve on the HF method? The approaches vary, but the common goal is to include a description Methods based on a single reference determinant are formally known as methods. of electron correlation. post Hartree Fock 49

  50. The classification of wave-function-based methods has two distinct components: the level of theory and the basis set. To illustrate the role of the level of theory and the basis set, we will look at two properties of a molecule of CH4, the C H bond length and the ionization energy. Experimentally, the C H bond length is 1.094A and the ionization energy for methane is 12.61 eV. 50

More Related Content

giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#