Accurate Coulomb-fitting basis sets for H to Rn

A series of auxiliary basis sets to fit Coulomb potentials for the elements H to Rn (except lanthanides) is presented. For each element only one auxiliary basis set is needed to approximate Coulomb energies in conjunction with orbital basis sets of split valence, triple zeta valence and quadruple zeta valence quality with errors of typically below ca. 0.15 kJ mol(-1) per atom; this was demonstrated in conjunction with the recently developed orbital basis sets of types def2-SV(P), def2-TZVP and def2-QZVPP for a large set of small molecules representing (nearly) each element in all of its common oxidation states. These auxiliary bases are slightly more than three times larger than orbital bases of split valence quality. Compared to non-approximated treatments, computation times for the Coulomb part are reduced by a factor of ca. 8 for def2-SV(P) orbital bases, ca. 25 for def2-TZVP and ca. 100 for def2-QZVPP orbital bases.     

Balanced basis sets of split valence, triple zeta valence and quadruple zeta valence quality for H to Rn: Design and assessment of accuracy

Gaussian basis sets of quadruple zeta valence quality for Rb-Rn are presented, as well as bases of split valence and triple zeta valence quality for H-Rn. The latter were obtained by (partly) modifying bases developed previously. A large set of more than 300 molecules representing (nearly) all elements-except lanthanides-in their common oxidation states was used to assess the quality of the bases all across the periodic table. Quantities investigated were atomization energies, dipole moments and structure parameters for Hartree-Fock, density functional theory and correlated methods, for which we had chosen M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory as an example. Finally recommendations are given which type of basis set is used best for a certain level of theory and a desired quality of results.     

Optimized Slater-type basis sets for the elements 1-118

Seven different types of Slater type basis sets for the elements H (Z = 1) up to E118 (Z = 118), ranging from a double zeta valence quality up to a quadruple zeta valence quality, are tested in their performance in neutral atomic and diatomic oxide calculations. The exponents of the Slater type functions are optimized for the use in (scalar relativistic) zeroth-order regular approximated (ZORA) equations. Atomic tests reveal that, on average, the absolute basis set error of 0.03 kcal/mol in the density functional calculation of the valence spinor energies of the neutral atoms with the largest all electron basis set of quadruple zeta quality is lower than the average absolute difference of 0.16 kcal/mol in these valence spinor energies if one compares the results of ZORA equation with those of the fully relativistic Dirac equation. This average absolute basis set error increases to about 1 kcal/mol for the all electron basis sets of triple zeta valence quality, and to approximately 4 kcal/mol for the all electron basis sets of double zeta quality. The molecular tests reveal that, on average, the calculated atomization energies of 118 neutral diatomic oxides MO, where the nuclear charge Z of M ranges from Z = 1-118, with the all electron basis sets of triple zeta quality with two polarization functions added are within 1-2 kcal/mol of the benchmark results with the much larger all electron basis sets, which are of quadruple zeta valence quality with four polarization functions added. The accuracy is reduced to about 4-5 kcal/mol if only one polarization function is used in the triple zeta basis sets, and further reduced to approximately 20 kcal/mol if the all electron basis sets of double zeta quality are used. The inclusion of g-type STOs to the large benchmark basis sets had an effect of less than 1 kcal/mol in the calculation of the atomization energies of the group 2 and group 14 diatomic oxides. The basis sets that are optimized for calculations using the frozen core approximation (frozen core basis sets) have a restricted basis set in the core region compared to the all electron basis sets. On average, the use of these frozen core basis sets give atomic basis set errors that are approximately twice as large as the corresponding all electron basis set errors and molecular atomization energies that are close to the corresponding all electron results. Only if spin-orbit coupling is included in the frozen core calculations larger errors are found, especially for the heavier elements, due to the additional approximation that is made that the basis functions are orthogonalized on scalar relativistic core orbitals.     

Segmented contracted basis sets for one- and two-component Dirac-Fock effective core potentials

Segmented contracted basis sets for 4d, 5d, 5s, and 6s elements of split (double zeta) valence to quadruple zeta valence quality optimized for Dirac-Fock effective core potentials (ECPs) are presented. They were obtained from previous bases optimized for Wood-Boring ECPs by comparably small modifications and reoptimizations. Additionally extensions for two-component self-consistent-field treatments accounting for spin-orbit (SO) coupling were designed and optimized. Reliability for chemical applications was assessed by comparing results to those obtained with a very large (19s16p17d7f6g) reference basis for a set of more than 80 representatively chosen 5s-5d compounds. Moreover, the effect of different types of ECPs and that of the SO-coupling at the basis set limit of density functional theory is documented for the above set of molecules extended by 40 5p-6p compounds.     

Contracted basis sets for density functional calculations: segmented versus general contraction

The differences between segmented and general contracted basis sets of double and triple zeta quality are analyzed for first and second row elements. Based on coverage of the exponent space and the performance for molecular properties, it is shown that a segmented contraction requires duplication of one primitive function compared to a general contraction for double zeta type basis sets. For triple zeta basis sets, segmentation necessitates either addition of one primitive function and expanding to a quadruple valence space, or addition of two primitive functions. For molecular properties depending on the valence orbitals, such as atomization energies, equilibrium distances, and vibrational frequencies, some of the inner functions describing the core orbitals can be removed without significantly affecting the accuracy. Several of the popular basis sets in common use correspond to such core-pruned basis sets.     

Consistent gaussian basis sets of double‐ and triple‐zeta valence with polarization quality of the fifth period for solid‐state calculations

Consistent basis sets of double‐ and triple‐zeta valence with polarization quality for the fifth period have been derived for periodic quantum‐chemical solid‐state calculations with the crystalline‐orbital program CRYSTAL. They are an extension of the pob‐TZVP basis sets, and are based on the full‐relativistic effective core potentials (ECPs) of the Stuttgart/Cologne group and on the def2‐SVP and def2‐TZVP valence basis of the Ahlrichs group. We optimized orbital exponents and contraction coefficients to supply robust and stable self‐consistent field (SCF) convergence for a wide range of different compounds. The computed crystal structures are compared to those obtained with standard basis sets available from the CRYSTAL basis set database. For the applied hybrid density functional PW1PW, the average deviations of calculated lattice constants from experimental references are smaller with pob‐DZVP and pob‐TZVP than with standard basis sets. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ab initio characterization of XH3 (X=N, P). I. Ammonia, phosphine and their related ions and radicals: structure and thermochemistry

Ammonia, phosphine and their related cations, anions and radicals have been investigated at a high level of accuracy. The singles and doubles coupled cluster method including a perturbational correction for connected triple excitations, CCSD(T), in conjunction with correlation consistent basis sets ranging in size from triple to sextuple zeta have been employed. Extrapolation to the complete basis set limit has been used with accurate treatments of core–valence correlation effects in order to accurately predict structures, ionization potentials, electron affinities as well as N–H and P–H bond dissociation energies. For all the species studied, harmonic vibrational frequencies have also been evaluated in order to obtain zero-point corrections.     

HF and MP2 calculations on CN−, N2, AlF,SiO, PN,SC, ClB,and P2 using correlated molecular wave functions

Contracted basis sets of double zeta valence quality plus polarization functions (DZP) and augmented DZP basis sets, which were recently constructed for the first‐ and second‐row atoms, are applied to study the electronic ground states of the diatomic molecules CN^?, N₂, AlF, SiO, PN, SC, ClB, and P₂. At the Hartree–Fock (HF) and/or Møller–Plesset second‐order (MP2) levels, total and molecular orbital energies, dissociation energies, bond lengths, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and dipole moments are calculated and compared with available experimental data and with the results obtained from correlation consistent polarized valence basis sets of Dunning's group. For N₂, calculations of polarizabilities at the HF and MP2 levels with the sets presented above are also done and compared with results reported in the literature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Optimized accurate auxiliary basis sets for RI-MP2 and RI-CC2 calculations for the atoms Rb to Rn

The introduction of the resolution-of-the-identity (RI) approximation for electron repulsion integrals in quantum chemical calculations requires in addition to the orbital basis so-called auxiliary or fitting basis sets. We report here such auxiliary basis sets optimized for second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory for the recently published (Weigend and Ahlrichs Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2005, 7, 3297–3305) segmented contracted Gaussian basis sets of split, triple-ζ and quadruple-ζ valence quality for the atoms Rb–Rn (except lanthanides). These basis sets are designed for use in connection with small-core effective core potentials including scalar relativistic corrections. Hereby accurate resolution-of-the-identity calculations with second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and related methods can now be performed for molecules containing elements from H to Rn. The error of the RI approximation has been evaluated for a test set of 385 small and medium sized molecules, which represent the common oxidation states of each element, and is compared with the one-electron basis set error, estimated based on highly accurate explicitly correlated MP2–R12 calculations. With the reported auxiliary basis sets the RI error for MP2 correlation energies is typically two orders of magnitude smaller than the one-electron basis set error, independent on the position of the atoms in the periodic table.     

Ab initio characterization of XH3 (X = N,P). Part II. Electric, magnetic and spectroscopic properties of ammonia and phosphine

The coupled cluster theory in conjunction with core valence triple and quadruple zeta basis sets has been employed for investigating electric, magnetic and spectroscopic properties of ammonia and phosphine. Namely molecular dipole and quadrupole moments, NMR shielding and spin-rotation constants, as well as spectroscopic properties such as rotational and centrifugal distortion constants as well as harmonic and anharmonic frequencies of NH₃ and PH₃ have been determined at a high level of accuracy. To obtain parameters directly comparable to experiment, vibrational effects have also been taken into account. In addition, the basis set convergence has been investigated for the molecular dipole moment.     

Density functional theory optimized basis sets for gradient corrected functionals: 3d transition metal systems

Density functional theory optimized basis sets for gradient corrected functionals for 3d transition metal atoms are presented. Double zeta valence polarization and triple zeta valence polarization basis sets are optimized with the PW86 functional. The performance of the newly optimized basis sets is tested in atomic and molecular calculations. Excitation energies of 3d transition metal atoms, as well as electronic configurations, structural parameters, dissociation energies, and harmonic vibrational frequencies of a large number of molecules containing 3d transition metal elements, are presented. The obtained results are compared with available experimental data as well as with other theoretical data from the literature.     

Accurate energetics of small molecules containing third-row atoms Ga-Kr: a comparison of advanced ab initio and density functional theory

Advanced ab initio [coupled cluster theory through quasiperturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T))] and density functional (B3LYP) computational chemistry approaches were used in combination with the standard and augmented correlation consistent polarized valence basis sets [cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ, where n=D(2), T(3), Q(4), and 5] to investigate the energetic and structural properties of small molecules containing third-row (Ga-Kr) atoms. These molecules were taken from the Gaussian-2 (G2) extended test set for third-row atoms. Several different schemes were used to extrapolate the calculated energies to the complete basis set (CBS) limit for CCSD(T) and the Kohn-Sham (KS) limit for B3LYP. Zero point energy and spin orbital corrections were included in the results. Overall, CCSD(T) atomization energies, ionization energies, proton affinities, and electron affinities are in good agreement with experiment, within 1.1 kcal/mol when the CBS limit has been determined using a series of two basis sets of at least triple zeta quality. For B3LYP, the overall mean absolute deviation from experiment for the three properties and the series of molecules is more significant at the KS limit, within 2.3 and 2.6 kcal/mol for the cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ basis set series, respectively.     

Basis set convergence studies of Hartree-Fock calculations of molecular properties within the resolution of the identity approximation

Within the resolution of the identity (RI) method, the convergence of the Hartree-Fock (HF) total molecular energy and the multipole moments in the course of the combined regular expansion of the molecular and auxiliary (RI) basis sets is studied. Dunning's cc-pVXZ series is used for both the molecular and the RI basis sets. The results show the calculated quantities converge to the HF limit when both the molecular and the RI basis sets are expanded from correlation-consistent polarized valence double zeta to correlation-consistent polarized valence sextuple zeta. Combinations of molecular/RI basis sets sufficient for convergence of the total energy and of the multipole moments at various accuracy levels have been determined. A measure of the RI basis set incompleteness is suggested and discussed. As it is significantly faster than the standard HF algorithm for small and midsize molecules, the RI-HF method, together with appropriate expanding series of both molecular and RI basis sets, provide an efficient tool to estimate and control the error of the Hartree-Fock calculations due to the finite basis set.     

Polarization functions for gaussian basis sets for the first row atoms

Exponent optimization was performed for a single set ofd-type Gaussians on the first row atoms C, N, and O in fifteen small molecules. The hydrogenp-exponents were kept at the fixed value of 1.0. For the underlying valence shell basis sets, Dunning's double zeta basis sets were used. Standard exponents of polarization functions are suggested for the most common valence states of the C, N, and O atoms.     

Consistent Gaussian basis sets of triple‐zeta valence with polarization quality for solid‐state calculations

Consistent basis sets of triple‐zeta valence with polarization quality for main group elements and transition metals from row one to three have been derived for periodic quantum‐chemical solid‐state calculations with the crystalline‐orbital program CRYSTAL. They are based on the def2‐TZVP basis sets developed for molecules by the Ahlrichs group. Orbital exponents and contraction coefficients have been modified and reoptimized, to provide robust and stable self‐consistant field (SCF) convergence for a wide range of different compounds. We compare results on crystal structures, cohesive energies, and solid‐state reaction enthalpies with the modified basis sets, denoted as pob‐TZVP, with selected standard basis sets available from the CRYSTAL basis set database. The average deviation of calculated lattice parameters obtained with a selected density functional, the hybrid method PW1PW, from experimental reference is smaller with pob‐TZVP than with standard basis sets, in particular for metallic systems. The effects of basis set expansion by diffuse and polarization functions were investigated for selected systems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Compact basis sets for LCAO-LSD calculations. Part II: Tests for Cr2 and Ni4

The compact orbital and auxiliary basis sets for LCAO-LSD calculations introduced in Part I are tested in molecular calculations on Cr₂ and Ni₄. The present results for spectroscopic constants and valence orbital energies obtained using medium size orbital expansions with a double-zeta representation for valence orbitals are in very good agreement with those previously calculated with very extended sets. Since the computational time of the present calculations is reduced severalfold compared with the extended basis set calculations, the present basis sets allow increased efficiency of the LCAO-LSD calculations and allow the method to be extended to larger systems.