Academic Journal

Coupling all-electron full-potential density functional theory with grid-based continuum embeddings.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Coupling all-electron full-potential density functional theory with grid-based continuum embeddings.
Authors: Filser, Jakob, Bainglass, Edan, Reuter, Karsten, Andreussi, Oliviero
Source: Journal of Chemical Physics; 10/28/2025, Vol. 163 Issue 16, p1-16, 16p
Subject Terms: Density functional theory, Electrochemistry, Catalysis, Electrolytes, Modular programming
Abstract: Recent advances in continuum embedding models have enabled the incorporation of solvent and electrolyte effects into density functional theory (DFT) simulations of material surfaces, significantly benefiting electrochemistry, catalysis, and other applications. To extend the simulation of diverse systems and properties, the implementation of continuum embedding models into the Environ library adopts a modular programming paradigm, offering a flexible interface for communication with various DFT programs. The speed and scalability of the current implementation rely on a smooth definition of the key physical properties of the atomistic system, in particular, of its electronic density. This has hindered the coupling of Environ with all-electron simulation packages, as the sharp electron density peaks near atomic nuclei are difficult to represent on regular grids. In this work, we introduce a novel smoothing scheme that transforms atom-centered electron densities into a regular grid representation while preserving the accuracy of electrostatic calculations. This approach enables a minimal and generic interface, facilitating seamless interoperability between Environ and all-electron DFT programs. We demonstrate this development through the coupling of Environ with the FHI-aims package and present benchmark simulations that validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Complementary Index
Description
ISSN:00219606
DOI:10.1063/5.0288363