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Abstract Vibrational spectroscopy enables critical insight into the structural and dynamic properties of molecules. Presently, the majority of theoretical approaches to spectroscopy employ wavefunction‐basedab initioor density functional methods that rely on the harmonic approximation. This approximation breaks down for large molecules with strongly anharmonic bonds or for molecules with large internuclear separations. An alternative to these methods involves generating molecular anharmonic potential energy surfaces (potentials) and using them to extrapolate the vibrational frequencies. This study examines the efficacy of density functional theory (DFT) and the correlation consistent Composite Approach (ccCA) in generating anharmonic frequencies from potentials of small main group molecules. Vibrational self‐consistent field Theory (VSCF) and post‐VSCF methods were used to calculate the fundamental frequencies of these molecules from their potentials. Functional choice, basis set selection, and mode‐coupling are also examined as factors in influencing accuracy. The absolute deviations for the calculated frequencies using potentials at the ccCA level of theory were lower than the potentials at the DFT level. With DFT resulting in bending modes that are better described than those of ccCA, a multilevel DFT:ccCA approach where DFT potentials are used for single vibrational mode potentials and ccCA is used for vibrational mode‐mode couplings can be utilized for larger polyatomic systems. The frequencies obtained with this multilevel approach using VCIPSI‐PT2 were closer to experimental frequencies than the scaled harmonic frequencies, indicating the success of utilizing post‐VSCF methods to generate more accurate representations of computed infrared spectra.
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Universal anharmonic potential energy surfaces for XY 2 -type molecules
An approach to generate anharmonic potential energy surfaces for both linear and bent XY 2 -type molecules from their equilibrium geometries, Hessians, and total atomization energies alone is presented. Two key features of the potential energy surfaces are that (a) they reproduce the harmonic behavior around the equilibrium geometries exactly and (b) they have the correct limiting behavior with respect to total bond dissociation. The potentials are constructed from two diatomic potentials, for which both the Morse or Varshni potentials are tested, and a triatomic potential, for which modified forms of the Anderson- n potential are tested. Potential energy surfaces for several linear and bent molecules are constructed from ab initio data, and the third-order derivatives of these surfaces at their equilibrium geometries are compared to the results of finite difference computations. For bent molecules, the vibrational spectra predicted by vibrational configuration interaction calculations on these surfaces are compared to experiment. A modified version of the Anderson- n potential, in combination with the Varshni potential, is demonstrated to predict vibrational frequencies associated with bond angle bending an average of 20 cm −1 below the harmonic oscillator approximation and with a fourfold reduction in the root-mean-square deviation from experiment compared to the harmonic oscillator approximation.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1919571
- PAR ID:
- 10340464
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- AIP Advances
- Volume:
- 12
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 2158-3226
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 065012
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0096893
