A general perturbation approach for equation of state development: applications to simple fluids, ab initio potentials, and fullerenes

A new perturbation scheme based on the Barker-Henderson perturbation theory [J. Chem. Phys. 47, 4714 (1967)] is proposed to predict the thermodynamic properties of spherical molecules. Accurate predictions of second virial coefficients and vapor-liquid coexistence properties are obtained for a large variety of potential functions (square well, Yukawa, Sutherland, Lennard-Jones, Buckingham, Girifalco). New Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations of the generalized exp-m Buckingham potential are reported. An extension of the perturbation approach to mixtures is proposed, and excellent predictions of vapor-liquid equilibria are obtained for Lennard-Jones mixtures. The perturbation scheme can be applied to complex potential functions fitted to ab initio data to predict the properties of real molecules such as neon. The new approach can also be used as an auxiliary tool in molecular simulation studies, to efficiently optimize an intermolecular potential on macroscopic properties or match force fields based on different potential functions.