In a previous contribution (Mol. Phys. {\bf 103}, xxxx, 2005), we established the suitability of density functional theory (DFT) for the calculation of molecular anharmonic force fields. In the present work, we have assessed a wide variety of basis sets and exchange-correlation functionals for harmonic and fundamental frequencies, equilibrium and ground-state rotational constants, and thermodynamic functions beyond the RRHO (rigid rotor-harmonic oscillator) approximation. The fairly good performance of double-zeta plus polarization basis sets for frequencies results from an error compensation between basis set incompleteness and the intrinsic error of exchange-correlation functionals. Triple-zeta plus polarization basis sets are recommended, with an additional high-exponent $d$ function on second-row atoms. All conventional hybrid GGA functionals perform about equally well: high-exchange hybrid GGA and meta-GGA functionals designed for kinetics yield poor results, with the exception of of the very recently developed BMK functional which takes a middle position along with the HCTH/407 (second generation GGA) and TPSS (meta-GGA) functionals. MP2 performs similarly to these functionals but is inferior to hybrid GGAs such as B3LYP and B97-1.

Assessment of Various Density Functionals and Basis Sets for the Calculation of Molecular Anharmonic Force Fields

The determination of accurate equilibrium molecular structures plays a fundamental role for understanding many physical-chemical properties of molecules, ranging from the precise evaluation of the electronic structure to the analysis of dynamical and environmental effects in tuning their overall behavior. For this purpose the so-called semiexperimental approach, based on a nonlinear least-squares fit of the moments of inertia associated with a set of available isotopologues, allows one to obtain very accurate results, without the unfavorable computational cost characterizing high-level quantum chemical methods. In the present work the MSR (Molecular Structure Refinement) software for the determination of equilibrium structures by means of the semiexperimental approach is presented, and its implementation is discussed in some detail. The software, which is interfaced with a powerful graphical user interface, includes different optimization algorithms, an extended error analysis, and a number of advanced fe...

Development and Implementation of Advanced Fitting Methods for the Calculation of Accurate Molecular Structures.

Accuracy of the rotational constants

The internal rotation (ν9) of nitric acid is studied using several ab initio models including 1D models and full dimensionality (9D) ones. For the 9D calculations, an adiabatic separation between the large amplitude motion, i.e. the torsion, and the eight other modes is performed. The potential energy surface is calculated at CCSD(T) level with a triple zeta atomic basis set and is expanded in a Taylor series up to the second-order along the torsional path. The vibrational calculations are performed with the codes ELVIBROT and TNUM. Our main results show that the torsional energy levels and the corresponding tunneling spliting are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Furthermore, the resonance between 2ν9 and ν5 (NO2 in-plane bending) is also well described with full dimensionality models.

Torsional energy levels of nitric acid in reduced and full dimensionality with ELVIBROT and TNUM

The present study reports molecular dynamics simulations for biphasic systems comprising tributyl phosphate (TBP) in dodecane and uranyl nitrate in the aqueous phase, which are key chemical species in the well-known Pu–U extraction (PUREX) process. An attempt has been made to understand the nature of interface and mechanism of ‘TBP associated uranyl’ crossing under neutral and acidic conditions. Results show that the solvent density undergoes large fluctuation near the interface depending on the nature of the aqueous–organic phase. The study provides compelling evidence of experimentally observed reorganization of interfacial complexes at the interface and their structural reformation during extraction. It has been observed that the surface active nature of TBP and their interfacial coverage is modulated by the nature of incorporated solute species and their location with respect to the interface. Also, the TBP structuring near the interface is destroyed when an acidic interface is considered rather than a neutral one which favors the uranyl extraction. With an acidic interface, the water humidity of organic phase was observed to be increased in the experiments. Furthermore, the acid/water solubility in the organic phase was observed to be influenced by selection of acid models and their concentration. Simulations with high acid concentration show water pocket formation in the organic phase. However, in the case of dissociated ions or a mixture of both, no such water pool is observed and the extracted water remains dispersed in the organic phase, having the tendency to be replaced by HNO3 because of preferred TBP·HNO3 complexation over TBP·H2O. Most remarkably, the present study makes evident the TBP-induced charge redistribution of uranyl complexes during migration from the interface to the bulk organic phase, which contributes to drive uranyl complexes such as UO2·NO3·4TBP, UO2·5TBP and UO2·NO3·3TBP·HNO3 in the organic phase, and this was reestablished by DFT calculations. Thus, the present study inspires future simulation and experimental investigations on the extraction of species at the liquid–liquid interface.

C. Gutle

Papers

Anharmonic force field and equilibrium structure of nitric acid