Showing papers on "Path integral molecular dynamics published in 2009"

Competing quantum effects in the dynamics of a flexible water model

Abstract: Numerous studies have identified large quantum mechanical effects in the dynamics of liquid water. In this paper, we suggest that these effects may have been overestimated due to the use of rigid water models and flexible models in which the intramolecular interactions were described using simple harmonic functions. To demonstrate this, we introduce a new simple point charge model for liquid water, q-TIP4P/F, in which the O-H stretches are described by Morse-type functions. We have parametrized this model to give the correct liquid structure, diffusion coefficient, and infrared absorption frequencies in quantum (path integral-based) simulations. The model also reproduces the experimental temperature variation of the liquid density and affords reasonable agreement with the experimental melting temperature of hexagonal ice at atmospheric pressure. By comparing classical and quantum simulations of the liquid, we find that quantum mechanical fluctuations increase the rates of translational diffusion and orientational relaxation in our model by a factor of around 1.15. This effect is much smaller than that observed in all previous simulations of empirical water models, which have found a quantum effect of at least 1.4 regardless of the quantum simulation method or the water model employed. The small quantum effect in our model is a result of two competing phenomena. Intermolecular zero point energy and tunneling effects destabilize the hydrogen-bonding network, leading to a less viscous liquid with a larger diffusion coefficient. However, this is offset by intramolecular zero point motion, which changes the average water monomer geometry resulting in a larger dipole moment, stronger intermolecular interactions, and a slower diffusion. We end by suggesting, on the basis of simulations of other potential energy models, that the small quantum effect we find in the diffusion coefficient is associated with the ability of our model to produce a single broad O-H stretching band in the infrared absorption spectrum.

On the applicability of centroid and ring polymer path integral molecular dynamics for vibrational spectroscopy

Abstract: Centroid molecular dynamics (CMD) and ring polymer molecular dynamics (RPMD) are two conceptually distinct extensions of path integral molecular dynamics that are able to generate approximate quantum dynamics of complex molecular systems. Both methods can be used to compute quasiclassical time correlation functions which have direct application in molecular spectroscopy; in particular, to infrared spectroscopy via dipole autocorrelation functions. The performance of both methods for computing vibrational spectra of several simple but representative molecular model systems is investigated systematically as a function of temperature and isotopic substitution. In this context both CMD and RPMD feature intrinsic problems which are quantified and investigated in detail. Based on the obtained results guidelines for using CMD and RPMD to compute infrared spectra of molecular systems are provided.

Proton transport in triflic acid hydrates studied via path integral car-parrinello molecular dynamics.

Abstract: The mono-, di-, and tetrahydrates of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, which contain characteristic H3O+, H5O2+, and H9O4+ structures, provide model systems for understanding proton transport in materials with high perfluorosulfonic acid density such as perfluorosulfonic acid membranes commonly employed in hydrogen fuel cells. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations indicate that protons in these solids are predisposed to transfer to the water most strongly bound to sulfonate groups via a Grotthuss-type mechanism, but quickly return to the most solvated defect structure either due to the lack of a nearby species to stabilize the new defect or a preference for the proton to be maximally hydrated. Path integral molecular dynamics of the mono- and dihydrate reveal significant quantum effects that facilitate proton transfer to the “presolvated” water or SO3− in the first solvation shell and increase the Zundel character of all the defects. These trends are quantified in free energy profiles for each bonding env...

On the importance of nuclear quantum motions in near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy of molecules.

Abstract: We report the effects of sampling nuclear quantum motion with path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) on calculations of the nitrogen K-edge spectra of two isolated organic molecules. s-triazine, a prototypical aromatic molecule occupying primarily its vibrational ground state at room temperature, exhibits substantially improved spectral agreement when nuclear quantum effects are included via PIMD, as compared to the spectra obtained from either a single fixed-nuclei based calculation or from a series of configurations extracted from a classical molecular dynamics trajectory. Nuclear quantum dynamics can accurately explain the intrinsic broadening of certain features. Glycine, the simplest amino acid, is problematic due to large spectral variations associated with multiple energetically accessible conformations at the experimental temperature. This work highlights the sensitivity of near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) to quantum nuclear motions in molecules, and the necessity of accurately sampling such quantum motion when simulating their NEXAFS spectra.

Ab initio Path Integral Molecular Dynamics Based on Fragment Molecular Orbital Method

Abstract: We have developed an ab initio path integral molecular dynamics method based on the fragment molecular orbital method. This “FMO-PIMD” method can treat both nuclei and electrons quantum mechanically, and is useful to simulate large hydrogen-bonded systems with high accuracy. After a benchmark calculation for water monomer, water trimer and glycine pentamer have been studied using the FMO-PIMD method to investigate nuclear quantum effects on structure and molecular interactions. The applicability of the present approach is demonstrated through a number of test calculations.

Path-integral molecular dynamics simulations of small hydrated sulfuric acid clusters H2SO4·(H2O)n (n = 1–6) on semiempirical PM6 potential surfaces

Abstract: A recently developed semiempirical PM6 method was applied to study small hydrated sulfuric acid clusters. Various low-energy structures of the H 2 SO 4 ·(H 2 O) n ( n = 1–9) clusters were optimized at this level and then compared to previous ab initio and density-functional theory studies in order to understand the applicability of the PM6 method in describing proton-transfer processes as well as hydrogen-bonded structures in the clusters. Although the PM6 method seems to somewhat overemphasize bifurcated hydrogen-bonded structures, moderately good agreement was obtained. Quantum path-integral molecular dynamics simulations for the H 2 SO 4 ·(H 2 O) n ( n = 1–6) clusters were subsequently performed directly using PM6 potential energies and their gradients. It was found that the acid dissociation probability increases with an increase in the cluster size, as expected, and that so-called contact-ion-pair structures are dominant in the proton-dissociated clusters. The importance of nuclear quantum effects in the cluster structures and proton-transfer processes is demonstrated.

Path-integral molecular dynamics simulations of hydrated hydrogen chloride cluster HCl(H2O)4 on a semiempirical potential energy surface

Abstract: Path-integral molecular dynamics simulations for the HCl(H 2 O) 4 cluster have been performed on the ground-state potential energy surface directly obtained on-the-fly from semiempirical PM3-MAIS molecular orbital calculations. It is found that the HCl(H 2 O) 4 cluster has structural rearrangement above the temperature of 300 K showing a liquid-like behavior. Quantum mechanical fluctuation of hydrogen nuclei plays a significant role in structural arrangement processes in this cluster.

A Car-Parrinello and path integral molecular dynamics study of the intramolecular lithium bond in the lithium 2-pyridyl-N-oxide acetate.

Abstract: Lithium bonding in lithium 2-pyridyl-N-oxide acetate has been investigated using classic Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) and the path integral approach [path integrals molecular dynamics (PIMD)]. The simulations have been performed in 300 K. Structures, energies, and lithium trajectories have been determined. The CPMD results show that the lithium atom is generally equidistant between heavy atoms in the (O⋯Li⋯O) bridge. Applying quantum effects through the PIMD leads to similar conclusion. The theoretical lithium 2-pyridyl-N-oxide acetate infrared spectrum has also been determined using the CPMD calculations. This shows very good agreement with available experimental results and reproduces well the broad low-frequency band observed experimentally. In order to gain deeper understanding of the nature of the lithium bonding topological analysis of the electron localization function has been applied.

Structural and electronic structure differences due to the O–H···O and O–H···S bond formation in selected benzamide derivatives: a first-principles molecular dynamics study

Abstract: Density functional theory-based methods were employed to obtain static and dynamical descriptions of the molecular properties of 2-hydroxy-N-methylbenzamide and 2-hydroxy-N-methylthiobenzamide; compounds containing O–H···O and O–H···S strong, intramolecular hydrogen bonds. These compounds are important as analogues of commercial analgesic and antipyretic medicines. In the current study the classical Kohn–Sham method was applied to develop static models describing the geometric parameters and proton potentials. The topological analysis of the electron density was performed via atoms in molecules theory. Subsequently, Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics investigations were performed in vacuo and in the solid state. The geometric and spectroscopic properties were investigated and compared with available experimental data. The influence of quantum effects on the intramolecular hydrogen bond properties were studied via path integral molecular dynamics in the solid state for 2-hydroxy-N-methylbenzamide. We found that the proton behavior depends strongly on the type of acceptor: the sulfur-containing bridge has significantly smaller proton flexibility than the oxygen-bearing analogue, which is reflected in the electronic structure and bridge dynamics.

Investigations of an O-H...S hydrogen bond via Car-Parrinello and path integral molecular dynamics.

Abstract: The presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds influences the binding energy, tautomeric equilibrium, and spectroscopic properties of various classes of organic molecules. This article discusses the O-H...S bridge, one of the less commonly investigated types of intramolecular interactions. 3-mercapto-1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-one was considered as the model structure. This compound exhibits photochromic properties. Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) was applied to investigate the spectroscopic and molecular properties of this compound in the gas phase and in the solid state. The second part of the study is devoted to the effects of the quantization of nuclear motions, with special attention to the O-H...S moiety. Path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) of the molecular crystal of 3-mercapto-1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-one was carried out for this purpose. The employment of this fully quantum mechanical technique enables one to study, in a time-averaged sense, the zero-point motion important for flat potential energy surfaces. Finally, the potentials of mean force (Pmfs) were calculated from the CPMD and PIMD data obtained for the solid-state calculations. The effect of including quantum nuclear motion was investigated. In the studied compound, quantum effects shortened the H-bridge and provided a better description of the free energy minimum. The computational results place this uncommon intramolecular H-bonding among the class of strong hydrogen bonds with large red shifts of O-H stretching modes, which correspond well with previously presented experimental data in the literature concerning this structure.

First-principles investigation of isomerization by proton transfer in β-fumaric acid crystal

Abstract: Crystal structure of fumaric acid was investigated by Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics and Path Integral molecular dynamics. We propose a mechanism of isomerization by proton transfer in the solid state. It is shown that the three conformers of fumaric acid observed in cryogenic Ar matrix are also present in the solid. Standard ab initio Car-Parrinello dynamics of the studied solid at 100 K indicates that barrier height for proton transfer is too high to enable thermal jump over the barrier. Path Integral method in this particular case significantly changes proton behavior in the hydrogen bridge, and the proton tunneling process is observed. Vibrational spectra of investigated system HOOC-CH=CH-COOH and its deuterated analog DOOC-CH=CH-COOD were calculated and compared with experimental data.

Vibron hopping and bond anharmonicity in hot dense hydrogen

Abstract: The Raman-active vibron of dense hydrogen has been shown to exhibit unexpected changes as a function of pressure and temperature to above 100GPa. To understand these results we have performed supercell-based calculations using Van Kranendonk theory taking into account the renormalization of the hopping parameter by the lattice vibrations. We find that the major temperature dependence at this level of theory comes from the differences in populations of rotational states. The theory provides a fair description of the experimental results up to 70GPa. We examine in detail a number of assumptions made in the application of the Van Kranendonk model to hydrogen as a function of pressure and temperature. We also present results of hybrid path integral molecular dynamics calculations in the fluid state at a low pressure (7GPa) near the melting temperature. An amorphous-solid model of the fluid predicts that the Raman vibron frequencies change little upon melting, in agreement with experiment. The Van Kranendonk t...