Density functional theory gradient-corrected methods

The interaction of the acetylene molecule with the (100) surface of copper was studied using the cluster model approach. All the calculations have been performed using the Density Functional Theory. The BLYP method included in the Gaussian 98 [30] package was used. This method combines the gradient corrected exchange functional of Becke [31] with the gradient corrected correlation functional of Lee et al [32]. 

Over the decade 1995-2005, ab initio quantum chemistry has become an important tool in studying imidazole derivatives. Two highly productive approaches are often utilized for the calculations the wave function-based methods (e.g., Hartree-Fock theory and second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2)) and the density functional theory (DFT) based methods (e.g., gradient-corrected (BLYP) and hybrid (B3LYP) methods). 

The application of density functional theory to isolated, organic molecules is still in relative infancy compared with the use of Hartree-Fock methods. There continues to be a steady stream of publications designed to assess the performance of the various approaches to DFT. As we have discussed there is a plethora of ways in which density functional theory can be implemented with different functional forms for the basis set (Gaussians, Slater type orbitals, or numerical), different expressions for the exchange and correlation contributions within the local density approximation, different expressions for the gradient corrections and different ways to solve the Kohn-Sham equations to achieve self-consistency. This contrasts with the situation for Hartree-Fock calculations, wlrich mostly use one of a series of tried and tested Gaussian basis sets and where there is a substantial body of literature to help choose the most appropriate method for incorporating post-Hartree-Fock methods, should that be desired. 

Currently, the density functional theory (DFT) method has become the method of choice for the study of reaction mechanism with transition-metals involved. Gradient corrected DFT methods are of particular value for the computational modeling of catalytic cycles. They have been demonstrated in numerous applications for several elementary processes, to be able to provide quantitative information of high accuracy concerning structural and energetic properties of the involved key species and also to be capable of treating large model systems.30... 

As it is now very well known, accurate studies of the water-water interaction by means of ab-initio techniques require the use of larger and flexible basis sets and methods which consider correlation effects [85,94-96], Since high level ab-initio post-Hartree-Fock calculations are unfeasible because of their high computational cost for systems with many degrees of freedom, Density Functional Theory, more economical from the computational point of view, is being more and more considered as a viable alternative. Recently, we have presented [97] results of structural parameters and vibrational frequencies for the water clusters (H20) , n=2 to 8, using the DFT method with gradient corrected density functionals. 

The first way has been followed in what has become known as Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) (9). A solute and 60-90 solvent molecules are considered to represent the system, and the QM calculations are performed with density functionals, usually of generalised gradient approximation type (GGA), such as the Becke-Lee-Young-Parr (BLYP) (10) or the Perdew-Burke-Enzerhofer (PBE) (11,12) functionals. It is clear that the semiempirical character of concurrent density functional theory (DFT) methods and the use of these simple functionals imply a number of error sources and do not really provide a method-inherent control procedure to test the reliability of results. Recently it has been shown that these functionals even do not enable a correct description of the solvent water itself, as at ambient temperature they will describe water not as liquid but as supercooled system... 

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