Can the hybrid meta GGA and DFT-D methods describe the stacking interactions in conjugated polymers?

Conformation, defects, and dynamics of a discotic liquid crystal and their influence on charge transport

Future applications of discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) in electronic devices depend on a marked improvement of their conductivity properties. We present a study of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexakishexyloxytriphenylene (HAT6) and show how local conformation, structural defects, and thermal motions on the picosecond time scale strongly affect the efficient charge transport in DLCs. A direct and successful comparison of classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with both neutron powder diffraction and quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) give a full insight into the structural and dynamical properties of HAT6. The local conformation of HAT6 molecules is characterized by a mutual rotation (twist) angle of about 37° and typically a mutual aromatic-core distance of 3.4 Å instead of the average distance of 3.65 Å usually quoted. We show that a considerable number of structural traps is present in HAT6, which persist at the picosecond time scale. We find that the high disorder in the mutual positions of the aromatic cores is an important factor contributing to the limited conductivity of HAT6 compared to larger DLCs.

How reliable are DFT transition structures? Comparison of GGA, hybrid-meta-GGA and meta-GGA functionals

There have been many comparisons of computational methods applied to ground states, but studies of organic reactions usually require calculations on transition states, and these provide a different test of the methods. We present calculations of the geometries of nineteen covalent-bond forming transition states using HF and twelve different functionals, including GGA, hybrid-GGA and hybrid meta-GGA approaches. For the calculation of the TS geometries, the results suggest that B3LYP is only slightly less accurate than newer, computationally more expensive methods, and is less sensitive to choice of integration grid. We conclude that the use of B3LYP and related functionals is still appropriate for many studies of organic reaction mechanisms.

Convergence of Nuclear Magnetic Shieldings in the Kohn-Sham Limit for Several Small Molecules

Convergence patterns and limiting values of isotropic nuclear magnetic shieldings were studied for several small molecules (N2, CO, CO2, NH3, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, and C6H6) in the Kohn-Sham limit. Individual results of calculations using dedicated families of Jensen's basis sets (pcS-n and pcJ-n) were fitted toward the complete basis set limit (CBS) using a simple two-parameter formula. Several density functionals were used; calculated vibrational corrections (ZPV) applied; and, for comparison purposes, similar calculations performed using RHF, MP2, SOPPA, SOPPA(CCSD), and CCSD(T) methods and additionally, the aug-cc-pVTZ-J basis set. Finally, the CBS estimated results were critically compared with earlier reported literature data and experimental results. Among 42 studied DFT methods, the KTn and "pure" functionals produced the most accurate heavy atom isotropic nuclear shieldings.

H2O, H2, HF, F2 and F2O nuclear magnetic shielding constants and indirect nuclear spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) in the BHandH/pcJ-n and BHandH/XZP Kohn-Sham limits

Good performance of segmented contracted basis sets XZP, where X = D, T, Q and 5, for obtaining H(2)O, H(2), HF, F(2) and F(2)O nuclear isotropic shielding constants in the BHandH Kohn-Sham basis set limit was shown. The results of two- and three-parameter complete basis set limit extrapolation schemes were compared with experimental results, earlier literature data and benchmark ab initio results. Similar convergence patterns of shieldings obtained from calculations using general purpose XZP basis sets and from polarization-consistent basis sets pcS-n and pcJ-n, where n = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, designed to accurately predict magnetic properties were observed. On the contrary, the SSCCs were more sensitive to the XZP basis set size and generally less accurate than those estimated using pcJ-n basis set family. The BHandH density functional markedly outperforms B3LYP method in predicting heavy atom shieldings and SSCCs values in the studied systems.