191 research outputs found
A self-consistent first-principles calculation scheme for correlated electron systems
A self-consistent calculation scheme for correlated electron systems is
created based on the density-functional theory (DFT). Our scheme is a
multi-reference DFT (MR-DFT) calculation in which the electron charge density
is reproduced by an auxiliary interacting Fermion system. A short-range
Hubbard-type interaction is introduced by a rigorous manner with a residual
term for the exchange-correlation energy. The Hubbard term is determined
uniquely by referencing the density fluctuation at a selected localized
orbital. This strategy to obtain an extension of the Kohn-Sham scheme provides
a self-consistent electronic structure calculation for the materials design.
Introducing an approximation for the residual exchange-correlation energy
functional, we have the LDA+U energy functional. Practical self-consistent
calculations are exemplified by simulations of Hydrogen systems, i.e. a
molecule and a periodic one-dimensional array, which is a proof of existence of
the interaction strength U as a continuous function of the local fluctuation
and structural parameters of the system.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, to appear in J. Phys. Condens. Matte
Constraint-based, Single-point Approximate Kinetic Energy Functionals
We present a substantial extension of our constraint-based approach for
development of orbital-free (OF) kinetic-energy (KE) density functionals
intended for the calculation of quantum-mechanical forces in multi-scale
molecular dynamics simulations. Suitability for realistic system simulations
requires that the OF-KE functional yield accurate forces on the nuclei yet be
relatively simple. We therefore require that the functionals be based on DFT
constraints, local, dependent upon a small number of parameters fitted to a
training set of limited size, and applicable beyond the scope of the training
set. Our previous "modified conjoint" generalized-gradient-type functionals
were constrained to producing a positive-definite Pauli potential. Though
distinctly better than several published GGA-type functionals in that they gave
semi-quantitative agreement with Born-Oppenheimer forces from full Kohn-Sham
results, those modified conjoint functionals suffer from unphysical
singularities at the nuclei. Here we show how to remove such singularities by
introducing higher-order density derivatives. We give a simple illustration of
such a functional used for the dissociation energy as a function of bond length
for selected molecules.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev.
PEG Branched Polymer for Functionalization of Nanomaterials with Ultralong Blood Circulation
Nanomaterials have been actively pursued for biological and medical
applications in recent years. Here, we report the synthesis of several new
poly(ethylene glycol) grafted branched-polymers for functionalization of
various nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles (NP) and
gold nanorods (NRs), affording high aqueous solubility and stability for these
materials. We synthesize different surfactant polymers based upon
poly-(g-glutamic acid) (gPGA) and poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene)
(PMHC18). We use the abundant free carboxylic acid groups of gPGA for attaching
lipophilic species such as pyrene or phospholipid, which bind to nanomaterials
via robust physisorption. Additionally, the remaining carboxylic acids on gPGA
or the amine-reactive anhydrides of PMHC18 are then PEGylated, providing
extended hydrophilic groups, affording polymeric amphiphiles. We show that
single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), Au NPs and NRs functionalized by the
polymers exhibit high stability in aqueous solutions at different pHs, at
elevated temperatures and in serum. Morever, the polymer-coated SWNTs exhibit
remarkably long blood circulation (t1/2 22.1 h) upon intravenous injection into
mice, far exceeding the previous record of 5.4 h. The ultra-long blood
circulation time suggests greatly delayed clearance of nanomaterials by the
reticuloendothelial system (RES) of mice, a highly desired property for in vivo
applications of nanomaterials, including imaging and drug delivery
The Magnitude and Mechanism of Charge Enhancement of CH∙∙O H-bonds
Quantum calculations find that neutral methylamines and thioethers form complexes, with N-methylacetamide (NMA) as proton acceptor, with binding energies of 2–5 kcal/mol. This interaction is magnified by a factor of 4–9, bringing the binding energy up to as much as 20 kcal/mol, when a CH3+ group is added to the proton donor. Complexes prefer trifurcated arrangements, wherein three separate methyl groups donate a proton to the O acceptor. Binding energies lessen when the systems are immersed in solvents of increasing polarity, but the ionic complexes retain their favored status even in water. The binding energy is reduced when the methyl groups are replaced by longer alkyl chains. The proton acceptor prefers to associate with those CH groups that are as close as possible to the S/N center of the formal positive charge. A single linear CH··O hydrogen bond (H-bond) is less favorable than is trifurcation with three separate methyl groups. A trifurcated arrangement with three H atoms of the same methyl group is even less favorable. Various means of analysis, including NBO, SAPT, NMR, and electron density shifts, all identify the +CH··O interaction as a true H-bond
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