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A QM/MM implementation for periodic systems is reported. This is done for the case of molecules and for systems with two and three-dimensional periodicity, which is suitable to model electrolytes in contact with electrodes. Tests on different water-containing systems, ranging from the water dimer up to liquid water indicate the correctness of the scheme. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations are performed, as a possible direction to study realistic systems.

The analytical gradient for periodic systems is presented, for the case of metallic systems. The total energy and the free energy are computed on the Hartree-Fock or density functional level, with the wave function being expanded in terms of Gaussian type orbitals. The expression for the gradient is similar to the case of insulating systems, when no thermal broadening is applied. When the occupation of the states is according to the Fermi function, then the gradient is consistent with the gradient of the free energy. By comparing with numerical derivatives, examples demonstrate that a reasonable accuracy is achieved., Comment: to appear in Chem. Phys. Lett

A global search for possible LiF cluster structures is performed, up to (LiF)8. The method is based on simulated annealing, where all the energies are evaluated on the ab initio level. In addition, the threshold algorithm is employed to determine the energy barriers for the transitions among these structures, for the cluster (LiF)4, again on the ab initio level; and the corresponding tree graph is obtained.

A comprehensive ellipsometric study was performed on Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$Si single crystals in the spectral range from 0.01 eV to 6.2 eV. Direct and indirect band gaps of 73 meV and 10 meV, respectively, were observed in FeSi at 7 K. One of four infrared-active phonons that is energetically close to the direct absorption edge is coupled both to the electrons and to the low-energy phonon. This is evident from asymmetry in the phonon line shape and a reduction of its frequency when the absorption edge shifts across the phonon energy due to the temperature dependence of the direct band gap. As the temperature increases, the indirect gap changes sign, which manifests as a transition from a semiconductor to a semimetal. The corresponding gain of the spectral weight at low energies was recovered within an energy range of several eV. The present findings strongly support the model indicating that Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$Si can be well described in an itinerant picture, taking into account self-energy corrections., Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures

Possible crystalline modifications of chemical compounds at low temperatures correspond to local minima of the energy landscape. Determining these minima via simulated annealing is one method for the prediction of crystal structures, where the number of atoms per unit cell is the only information used. It is demonstrated that this method can be applied to covalent systems, at the example of boron nitride, using ab initio energies in all stages of the optimization, i.e. both during the global search and the subsequent local optimization. Ten low lying structure candidates are presented, including both layered structures and 3d-network structures such as the wurtzite and zinc blende types, as well as a structure corresponding to the beta-BeO type.

GdN bulk is studied with the local density approximation, on the Hartree-Fock level, and on the level of the hybrid functional B3LYP. A local basis set formalism is used, as implemented in the present CRYSTAL06 release. It is demonstrated that the code is technically capable of treating this system with its 4f electrons explicitly, i.e. out of the core. The band structure at the level of the local density approximation is in good agreement with earlier calculations and is found to be half-metallic. The Hartree-Fock band structure is insulating with a large gap. Interestingly, three solutions were found at the B3LYP level. The lowest of them is insulating for majority spin, and the Fermi surface for minority spin consists only of points, resulting in a very low density of states around the Fermi level., Comment: to appear in J. Phys.: Condensed Matter

Predicting which crystalline modifications can be present in a chemical system requires the global exploration of its energy landscape. Due to the large computational effort involved, in the past this search for sufficiently stable minima has been performed employing a variety of empirical potentials and cost functions followed by a local optimization on the ab initio level. However, this entails the risk of overlooking important modifications that are not modeled accurately using empirical potentials. In order to overcome this critical limitation, we develop an approach to employ ab initio energy functions during the global optimization phase of the structure prediction. As an example, we perform a global exploration of the landscape of LiF on the ab initio level and show that the relevant crystalline modifications are found during the search., Comment: to appear in Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys

We present density functional calculations on the molecule based S=1/2 antiferromagnetic chain compound Cu PM(NO3)2 (H2O)2; PM = pyrimidine. The properties of the ferro- and antiferromagnetic state are investigated at the level of the local density approximation and with the hybrid functional B3LYP. Spin density maps illustrate the exchange path via the pyrimidine molecule which mediates the magnetism in the one-dimensional chain. The computed exchange coupling is antiferromagnetic and in reasonable agreement with the experiment. It is suggested that the antiferromagnetic coupling is due to the possibility of stronger delocalization of the charges on the nitrogen atoms, compared to the ferromagnetic case. In addition, computed isotropic and anisotropic hyperfine interaction parameters are compared with recent NMR experiments.

Electronic structure codes usually allow to calculate the work function as a part of the theoretical description of surfaces and processes such as adsorption thereon. This requires a proper calculation of the electrostatic potential in all regions of space, which is apparently straightforward to achieve with plane wave basis sets, but more difficult with local basis sets. To overcome this, a relatively simple scheme is proposed to accurately compute the work function when a local basis set is used, by having some additional basis functions in the vacuum. Tests on various surfaces demonstrate that a very good agreement with experimental and other theoretical data can be achieved., Comment: to appear in Surf. Sci. Lett

We present an ab initio study of electronic correlation effects in a molecular cluster derived from the hexanuclear ferric wheel [LiFe6(OCH3)12-(dbm)6]PF6. The electronic and magnetic properties of this cluster have been studied with all-electron Hartree-Fock, full-potential density functional calculations and multi-reference second-order perturbation theory. For different levels of correlation, a detailed study of the impact of the electronic correlation on the exchange parameter was feasible. As the main result, we found that the influence of the bridge oxygen atoms on the exchange parameter is less intense than the influence of the apical ligand groups, which is due to the geometry of the cluster. With respect to the cluster model approach, the experimental value of the exchange parameter was affirmed., Comment: to be published in EPJB

Analytical Hartree-Fock gradients with respect to the cell parameter have been implemented in the electronic structure code CRYSTAL, for the case of one and two-dimensional periodicity. As in most molecular codes, Gaussian type orbitals are used to express the wavefunction. Examples demonstrate that the gradients have a good accuracy., Comment: to appear in Theor Chem Acc

The electronic and magnetic properties of the hexanuclear ferric wheel [LiFe6(OCH3)12-(dbm)6]PF6 have been studied with all-electron Hartree-Fock and full-potential density functional calculations. The best agreement for the magnetic exchange coupling is at the level of the B3LYP hybrid functional. Surprisingly, the Hartree-Fock approximation gives the wrong sign for the exchange coupling. The local density approximation and the gradient corrected functional PBE strongly overestimate the exchange coupling due to the too large delocalization of the d-orbitals. These findings are supported by results from the Mulliken population analysis for the magnetic moments and the charge on the individual atoms., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures

The adsorption of CO on the Pt(111) surface in a root3 x root3 pattern has been studied with the gradient corrected functional of Perdew and Wang and the B3LYP hybrid functional. A slab which is periodic in two dimensions is used to model the system. The Perdew-Wang functional incorrectly gives the fcc site as the most favorable adsorption site, in accord with a set of previous studies. The B3LYP functional gives the top site as the preferred site. This confirms results from cluster studies where it was suggested that the different splitting, dependent on the functional, between highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, could be the reason for this change of the adsorption site. This is supported by an analysis based on the projected density of states and the Mulliken population., Comment: to appear in Surf. Sci

Analytical Hartree-Fock gradients with respect to the cell parameter have been implemented in the electronic structure code CRYSTAL, for the case of three-dimensional periodicity. The code is based on Gaussian type orbitals, and the summation of the Coulomb energy is performed with the Ewald method. It is shown that a high accuracy of the cell gradient can be achieved., Comment: to appear in Theoretical Chemistry Accounts

Nickel bulk, the low index surfaces and the adsorbate systems Ni(111) (root 3 x root3)-Cl, and Ni(111)(2 x 2)-K are studied with gradient corrected density functional calculations. It is demonstrated that an approach based on Gaussian type orbitals is capable of describing these systems. The preferred adsorption sites and geometries are in good agreement with the experiments. Compared to non-magnetic substrates, there does not appear to be a huge difference concerning the structural data and charge distribution. The magnetic moment of the nickel atoms closest to the adsorbate is reduced, and oscillations of the magnetic moments within the first few layers are observed in the case of chlorine as an adsorbate. The trends observed for the Mulliken populations of the adsorbates are consistent with changes in the core levels., Comment: to appear in Surf. Sci

The transition metal coordination compound (pyrimidine)2FeCl2 crystallizes in a chiral lattice, space group I 4_1 2 2 (or I4_3 2 2). Combined magnetization, Mossbauer spectroscopy and powder neutron diffraction studies reveal that it is a canted antiferromagnet below T_N = 6.4 K with an unusually large canting of the magnetic moments of 14 deg. from their general antiferromagnetic alignment, one of the largest reported to date. This results in weak ferromagnetism with a ferromagnetic component of 1 mu_B. The large canting is due to the interplay between the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and the local single-ion anisotropy in the chiral lattice. The magnetically ordered structure of (pyrimidine)2FeCl2, however, is not chiral. The implications of these findings for the search of molecule based materials exhibiting chiral magnetic ordering is discussed., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures

Full-potential gradient corrected density functional calculations of the adsorption of potassium on the Ag(111) surface have been performed. The considered structures are Ag(111) (root 3 x root 3) R30degree-K and Ag(111) (2 x 2)-K. For the lower coverage, fcc, hcp and bridge site; and for the higher coverage all considered sites are practically degenerate. Substrate rumpling is most important for the top adsorption site. The bond length is found to be nearly identical for the two coverages, in agreement with recent experiments. Results from Mulliken populations, bond lengths, core level shifts and work functions consistently indicate a small charge transfer from the potassium atom to the substrate, which is slightly larger for the lower coverage., Comment: to appear in Phys Rev B

We compute the structure of an azamacrocycle, C26H18N6. Two approximatively planar elliptical structures with C2 or CI symmetry are found to be nearly degenerate. The roughly circular conformation observed in metal complexes turns out to be ~ 0.6 eV higher in energy. We suggest that this difference is mainly due to electrostatic interactions. We discuss the results on various levels of theory (Hartree-Fock, local density and gradient corrected density functional calculations)., Comment: to appear in J Phys Chem A

The adsorption of potassium on the Cu(111) surface in a 2x2 pattern has been simulated with all-electron full-potential density functional calculations. The top site is found to be the preferred adsorption site, with the other highly symmetric adsorption sites being nearly degenerate. The bond length from potassium to the nearest copper atom is computed to be 2.83 Angstrom. Population analysis and density of states indicate that there is no evidence for covalent bonding so that the binding mechanism appears to be a metallic bond., Comment: to appear in Eur. Phys. J. B

We describe the implementation of analytical Hartree-Fock gradients for periodic systems in the code CRYSTAL, emphasizing the technical aspects of this task. The code is now capable of calculating analytical derivatives with respect to nuclear coordinates for systems periodic in 0, 1, 2 and 3 dimensions (i.e. molecules, polymers, slabs and solids). Both closed-shell restricted and unrestricted Hartree-Fock gradients have been implemented. A comparison with numerical derivatives shows that the forces are highly accurate., Comment: accepted by Comp. Phys. Comm

We study the adsorption of chlorine on the Ag(111) surface with full potential gradient corrected density functional calculations. When considering a root3 x root3 R30degree pattern, we find that the fcc hollow is the most favorable adsorption site. We obtain an Ag-Cl bond length of 2.62 Angstrom which is intermediate between two controversial experimental results. We discuss the differences of core level energies and densities of states for the different adsorption sites. We find the Cl-Ag interaction to be more consistent with an ionic, rather than covalent, picture of the bonding. In addition, we compute energetics and related properties of Ag bulk and the clean Ag surface comparing the local density approximation and the generalized gradient approximation., Comment: accepted by Phys. Rev. B

We present the theory of analytical Hartree-Fock gradients for periodic systems as implemented in the code CRYSTAL. We demonstrate how derivatives of the integrals can be computed with the McMurchie-Davidson algorithm. Highly accurate gradients with respect to nuclear coordinates are obtained for systems periodic in 0,1,2 or 3 dimensions., Comment: accepted by International Journal of Quantum Chemistry

We investigate the adsorption of chlorine on the Cu(111) surface with full potential all-electron density functional calculations. Chlorine adsorption at the fcc hollow sites is slightly preferred over that at the hcp hollow. The adsorption geometry is in excellent agreement with electron diffraction and ion scattering data. Adsorption energies and surface diffusion barriers are close to those deduced from experiment., Comment: to appear in Chem. Phys. Lett

We report the bulk and surface properties of lithium computed within a full potential LCGTO formalism using both density functional theory and the Hartree-Fock approximation. We examine the convergence of computed properties with respect to numerical approximations and also explore the use of finite temperature density functional theory. We demonstrate that fully converged calculations reproduce cohesive properties, elastic constants, band structure, and surface energies in full agreement with experimental data and, where available, previous calculations., Comment: to appear in J. Phys.: Condensed Matter