Modelling molecule-surface interactions-an automated quantum-classical approach using a genetic algorithm

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Herbers, Claudia R. and Johnston, Karen and van der Vegt, Nico F. A. (2011) Modelling molecule-surface interactions-an automated quantum-classical approach using a genetic algorithm. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 13 (22). pp. 10577-10583. ISSN 1463-9084 (https://doi.org/10.1039/c0cp02889d)

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Abstract

We present an automated and efficient method to develop force fields for molecule-surface interactions. A genetic algorithm (GA) is used to parameterise a classical force field so that the classical adsorption energy landscape of a molecule on a surface matches the corresponding landscape from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The procedure performs a sophisticated search in the parameter phase space and converges very quickly. The method is capable of fitting a significant number of structures and corresponding adsorption energies. Water on a ZnO(0001) surface was chosen as a benchmark system but the method is implemented in a flexible way and can be applied to any system of interest. In the present case, pairwise Lennard Jones (LJ) and Coulomb potentials are used to describe the molecule-surface interactions. In the course of the fitting procedure, the LJ parameters are refined in order to reproduce the adsorption energy landscape. The classical model is capable of describing a wide range of energies, which is essential for a realistic description of a fluid-solid interface.

ORCID iDs

Herbers, Claudia R., Johnston, Karen ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5817-3479 and van der Vegt, Nico F. A.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)