Combining Local Range Separation and Local Hybrids: A Step in the Quest for Obtaining Good Energies and Eigenvalues from One Functional.

Some of the most successful exchange-correlation approximations in density functional theory are "hybrids", i.e., they rely on combining semilocal density functionals with exact nonlocal Fock exchange. In recent years, two classes of hybrid functionals have emerged as particularly promising: range-separated hybrids on the one hand, and local hybrids on the other hand. These functionals offer the hope to overcome a long-standing "observable dilemma", i.e., the fact that density functionals typically yield either a good description of binding energies, as obtained, e.g., in global and local hybrids, or physically interpretable eigenvalues, as obtained, e.g., in optimally tuned range-separated hybrids. Obtaining both of these characteristics from one and the same functional with the same set of parameters has been a long-standing challenge. We here discuss combining the concepts of local range separation and local hybrids as part of a constraint-guided quest for functionals that overcome the observable dilemma.

Predicting fundamental gaps accurately from density functional theory with non-empirical local range separation.

We present an exchange-correlation approximation in which the Coulomb interaction is split into long- and short-range components and the range separation is determined by a non-empirical density functional. The functional respects important constraints, such as the homogeneous and slowly varying density limits, leads to the correct long-range potential, and eliminates one-electron self-interaction. Our approach is designed for spectroscopic purposes and closely approximates the piecewise linearity of the energy as a function of the particle number. The functional's accuracy for predicting the fundamental gap in generalized Kohn-Sham theory is demonstrated for a large number of systems, including organic semiconductors with a notoriously difficult electronic structure.

Hybrid functionals with local range separation: Accurate atomization energies and reaction barrier heights.

Range-separated hybrid approximations to the exchange-correlation density functional mix exact and semi-local exchange in a position-dependent manner. In their conventional form, the range separation is controlled by a constant parameter. Turning this constant into a density functional leads to a locally space-dependent range-separation function and thus a more powerful and flexible range-separation approach. In this work, we explore the self-consistent implementation of a local range-separated hybrid, taking into account a one-electron self-interaction correction and the behavior under uniform density scaling. We discuss different forms of the local range-separation function that depend on the electron density, its gradient, and the kinetic energy density. For test sets of atomization energies, reaction barrier heights, and total energies of atoms, we demonstrate that our best model is a clear improvement over common global range-separated hybrid functionals and can compete with density functionals that contain multiple empirical parameters. Promising results for equilibrium bond lengths, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and vertical ionization potentials further underline the potential and flexibility of our approach.

Gauging Radical Stabilization with Carbenes.

Carbenes, including N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, are used extensively to stabilize open-shell transition metal complexes and organic radicals. Yet, it remains unknown, which carbene stabilizes a radical well and, thus, how to design radical-stabilizing C-donor ligands. With the large variety of C-donor ligands experimentally investigated and their electronic properties established, we report herein their radical-stabilizing effect. We show that radical stabilization can be understood by a captodative frontier orbital description involving π-donation to- and π-donation from the carbenes. This picture sheds a new perspective on NHC chemistry, where π-donor effects usually are assumed to be negligible. Further, it allows for the intuitive prediction of the thermodynamic stability of covalent radicals of main group- and transition metal carbene complexes, and the quantification of redox non-innocence.

The shell model for the exchange-correlation hole in the strong-correlation limit.

We present a model for the exchange-correlation hole and the exchange-correlation energy in the strong-correlation (SC) limit of density functional theory. The SC limit is useful in the construction of exchange-correlation functionals through interpolation of the adiabatic connection. The new approximation (referred to as shell model) is an improvement of the non-local radius (NLR) model recently proposed by Wagner and Gori-Giorgi [Phys. Rev. A 90, 052512 (2014)]. The NLR model does not correctly reproduce the limit of the strongly correlated homogeneous electron gas and this shortcoming is remedied by the shell model. As in the case of the NLR model, the spherically averaged electron density ρ(r,u)=∫dΩu4πρ(r+u) is the starting point for the construction of the shell model and it is also its computational bottleneck. We show how ρ(r, u), the NLR, and the shell model can be implemented efficiently. For this purpose, analytical integrals for the normalization and the energy density of the underlying holes are provided. Employing the shell model, we illustrate how improved adiabatic connection interpolations can be constructed.

Validation of local hybrid functionals for TDDFT calculations of electronic excitation energies.

The first systematic evaluation of local hybrid functionals for the calculation of electronic excitation energies within linear-response time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is reported. Using our recent efficient semi-numerical TDDFT implementation [T. M. Maier et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 11, 4226 (2015)], four simple, thermochemically optimized one-parameter local hybrid functionals based on local spin-density exchange are evaluated against a database of singlet and triplet valence excitations of organic molecules, and against a mixed database including also Rydberg, intramolecular charge-transfer (CT) and core excitations. The four local hybrids exhibit comparable performance to standard global or range-separated hybrid functionals for common singlet valence excitations, but several local hybrids outperform all other functionals tested for the triplet excitations of the first test set, as well as for relative energies of excited states. Evaluation for the combined second test set shows that local hybrids can also provide excellent Rydberg and core excitations, in the latter case rivaling specialized functionals optimized specifically for such excitations. This good performance of local hybrids for different excitation types could be traced to relatively large exact-exchange (EXX) admixtures in a spatial region intermediate between valence and asymptotics, as well as close to the nucleus, and lower EXX admixtures in the valence region. In contrast, the tested local hybrids cannot compete with the best range-separated hybrids for intra- and intermolecular CT excitation energies. Possible directions for improvement in the latter category are discussed. As the used efficient TDDFT implementation requires essentially the same computational effort for global and local hybrids, applications of local hybrid functionals to excited-state problems appear promising in a wide range of fields. Influences of current-density dependence of local kinetic-energy dependent local hybrids, differences between spin-resolved and "common" local mixing functions in local hybrids, and the effects of the Tamm-Dancoff approximation on the excitation energies are also discussed.

Construction of exchange-correlation functionals through interpolation between the non-interacting and the strong-correlation limit.

Drawing on the adiabatic connection of density functional theory, exchange-correlation functionals of Kohn-Sham density functional theory are constructed which interpolate between the extreme limits of the electron-electron interaction strength. The first limit is the non-interacting one, where there is only exchange. The second limit is the strong correlated one, characterized as the minimum of the electron-electron repulsion energy. The exchange-correlation energy in the strong-correlation limit is approximated through a model for the exchange-correlation hole that is referred to as nonlocal-radius model [L. O. Wagner and P. Gori-Giorgi, Phys. Rev. A 90, 052512 (2014)]. Using the non-interacting and strong-correlated extremes, various interpolation schemes are presented that yield new approximations to the adiabatic connection and thus to the exchange-correlation energy. Some of them rely on empiricism while others do not. Several of the proposed approximations yield the exact exchange-correlation energy for one-electron systems where local and semi-local approximations often fail badly. Other proposed approximations generalize existing global hybrids by using a fraction of the exchange-correlation energy in the strong-correlation limit to replace an equal fraction of the semi-local approximation to the exchange-correlation energy in the strong-correlation limit. The performance of the proposed approximations is evaluated for molecular atomization energies, total atomic energies, and ionization potentials.

Design of exchange-correlation functionals through the correlation factor approach.

The correlation factor model is developed in which the spherically averaged exchange-correlation hole of Kohn-Sham theory is factorized into an exchange hole model and a correlation factor. The exchange hole model reproduces the exact exchange energy per particle. The correlation factor is constructed in such a manner that the exchange-correlation energy correctly reduces to exact exchange in the high density and rapidly varying limits. Four different correlation factor models are presented which satisfy varying sets of physical constraints. Three models are free from empirical adjustments to experimental data, while one correlation factor model draws on one empirical parameter. The correlation factor models are derived in detail and the resulting exchange-correlation holes are analyzed. Furthermore, the exchange-correlation energies obtained from the correlation factor models are employed to calculate total energies, atomization energies, and barrier heights. It is shown that accurate, non-empirical functionals can be constructed building on exact exchange. Avenues for further improvements are outlined as well.

Communication: A non-empirical correlation factor model for the exchange-correlation energy.

A persistent challenge in density functional theory is the construction of a nonempirical correlation functional that is compatible with the exact exchange energy. To solve this problem, we develop a correlation factor approach in which an exchange hole model, yielding the exact exchange energy, is multiplied by a correlation factor that turns the exchange hole into an exchange-correlation hole. This results in an accurate correlation energy functional that is determined solely through physical constraints. Subject to the properties of the employed exchange hole model, the proposed correlation factor model to the exchange-correlation energy becomes exact in the high-density limit. In this limit, the exchange-correlation energy is dominated by exchange.

Nonlocal Functionals Inspired by the Strongly Interacting Limit of DFT: Exact Constraints and Implementation.

Capturing strong correlation effects remains a key challenge for the development of improved exchange-correlation (XC) functionals in density functional theory. The recently proposed multiple radii functional (MRF) [J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2017, 8, 2799; J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2019, 15, 3580] was designed to capture strong correlation effects seamlessly, as its mathematical structure draws from that of the exact XC functional in the limit of infinite correlations. The MRF functional provides a framework for building approximations along the density-fixed adiabatic connection, delivers accurate XC energy densities in the standard DFT gauge (same as that of the exact exchange energy density), and is free of one-electron self-interaction errors. To facilitate the development of XC functionals based on the MRF, we examine the behavior of the MRF functional when applied to uniform and scaled densities and consider how it can be made exact for the uniform electron gas. These theoretical insights are then used to build improved forms for the fluctuation function, an object that defines XC energy densities within the MRF framework. We also show how the MRF fluctuation function for physical correlation can be easily readjusted to accurately capture the XC functional in the limit of infinite correlations, demonstrating the versatility of MRF for building approximations for different correlation regimes. We describe the implementation of MRF using densities expanded on Gaussian basis sets, which improves the efficiency of previous grid-based MRF implementations.

Evaluation of a combination of local hybrid functionals with DFT-D3 corrections for the calculation of thermochemical and kinetic data.

Due to their position-dependent exact exchange admixture, local hybrid functionals offer a higher flexibility and thus the potential for more universal and accurate exchange correlation functionals compared to global hybrids with a constant admixture, as has been demonstrated in previous work. Yet, the local hybrid constructions used so far do not account for the inclusion of dispersion-type interactions. As a first exploratory step toward a more general approach that includes van der Waals-type interactions with local hybrids, the present work has added DFT-D3-type corrections to a number of simple local hybrid functionals. Optimization of only the s(8) and s(r,6) parameters for the S22 set provides good results for weak interaction energies but deteriorates the excellent performance of the local hybrids for G3 atomization energies and for classical reaction barriers. A combined optimization of the two DFT-D3 parameters with one of the two parameters of the spin-polarized local mixing function (LMF) of a local hybrid for a more general optimization set provides simultaneously accurate dispersion energies, improved atomization energies, and accurate reaction barriers, as well as excellent alkane protobranching ratios. For other LMFs, the improvements of such a combined optimization for the S22 energies have been less satisfactory. The most notable advantage of the dispersion-corrected local hybrids over, for example, a B3LYP-D3 approach, is in the much more accurate reaction barriers.

Self-Consistent Implementation of Hybrid Functionals with Local Range Separation.

Building on the previously introduced concept of local range separation (LRS) [ Krukau , A. V. ; Scuseria , G. E. ; Perdew , J. P. ; Savin , A. Hybrid functionals with local range separation J. Chem. Phys. 2008 129 124103 ], we report the first self-consistent implementation of hybrid exchange functionals with a position-dependent range-separation parameter. The two-electron integrals emerging from long-range exact exchange are calculated seminumerically. This avoids formerly suggested approximations to the exact exchange part and paves the way for applications to larger and chemically relevant systems. Additionally, we investigate the role of short-range exchange in this LRS scheme by comparing the local density approximation and PBE-type functionals. We propose a semiempirical approach for the range-separation function based on common ingredients of semilocal exchange-correlation functionals. Four parameters are optimized to a small training set of atomization energies and barrier heights. In comparison with established hybrid and semilocal functionals, the LRS functional performs well for basic chemical properties. In addition, our best functional yields outer-valence spectra comparable to optimally tuned approaches.

Local hybrid functionals with an explicit dependence on spin polarization.

A new family of local hybrid functionals with a position-dependent mixture of local and exact exchange has been constructed. On the basis of conceptual similarities between local hybrids and explicit nondynamical correlation functionals, the relative spin polarization has been introduced as an additional variable into the local mixing function (LMF) that determines the position dependence of the exact exchange admixture. This leads to two new two-parameter LMFs, one based on the ratio of the local kinetic energy density to the von Weizsacker kinetic energy density and the other on the dimensionless density gradient. After optimization of the two free parameters for small test sets, significant improvements of atomization energies of the full G3 set are obtained (mean absolute errors of 2.96 and 3.18 kcal mol(-1), respectively), with minor deterioration for classical reaction barriers (HTBH38 and NHTBH38 test sets). The simultaneous description of two-center three-electron dimer cations remains a challenge. It is shown that the exact and local spin density exchange energy densities have closely related gauge definitions, so that gauge mismatch is only a minor problem for local hybrids based on local exchange.

Generalized-gradient exchange-correlation hole obtained from a correlation factor ansatz.

The Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) approximation to the exchange-correlation energy is employed as reference point for the construction of an angle-averaged exchange-correlation hole. First, we develop a new model for the PBE exchange hole. In contrast to the previous model [Ernzerhof and Perdew, J. Chem. Phys. 109, 3313 (1998)], it contains an atomic exchange hole, similar to the Becke-Roussel model [Becke and Roussel, Phys. Rev. A 39, 3761 (1989)]. A correlation factor, i.e., a function multiplying the exchange hole, is proposed that turns the exchange into an exchange-correlation hole. The correlation factor has a simple form and is determined through a number of known conditions that should be satisfied by a generalized-gradient exchange-correlation hole.

Implementation of Molecular Gradients for Local Hybrid Density Functionals Using Seminumerical Integration Techniques.

We present the first implementation of the derivative of the local hybrid exchange-correlation energy with respect to the displacement of nuclei in a Gaussian-type atomic basis set. This extends a recent efficient implementation of local hybrid functionals for self-consistent Kohn-Sham and linear-response TDDFT calculations into the TURBOMOLE program package. In contrast to seminumerical schemes for global exact-exchange admixtures and to the related SCF and TDDFT implementations of local hybrid functionals, additional analytical integrals have to be evaluated at each grid point in the case of molecular gradients. The overall efficiency of the present scheme is improved through prescreening with the density matrix (P-junctions), as well as with spherical overlap estimates (S-junctions). Comparative timings for structure optimizations with local vs global hybrid functionals are discussed while gauging the accuracy for S- and P-junctions using varying thresholds. Local hybrids are furthermore assessed for structure optimization and harmonic vibrational frequency calculations (using numerical second derivatives) of a selection of test systems, comparing with experimental data and some widely used density functionals.

Efficient Self-Consistent Implementation of Local Hybrid Functionals.

Local hybrid density functionals, with position-dependent exact-exchange admixture, are an important extension to the popular global hybrid functionals, promising improved accuracy for many properties. An efficient implementation is crucial to make local hybrids available for widespread application. The resolution-of-the-identity approach used in previous implementations to compute nonstandard two-electron integrals has been found to require large uncontracted basis sets, rendering the cost of local hybrid calculations impractical for large-scale systems. On the basis of recently promoted seminumerical implementations of exact exchange in global hybrid functionals, we present an efficient, self-consistent implementation of local hybrid functionals within the generalized Kohn-Sham scheme. The final cost of a local hybrid calculation is equal to that of a meta-GGA global hybrid using the seminumerical algorithm. Since seminumerical schemes exhibit superior scaling with respect to system and basis set size over analytical exact exchange, and this advantage is not affected by a position-dependent admixture of exact exchange, local hybrid calculations for large systems are now possible.

Efficient Semi-numerical Implementation of Global and Local Hybrid Functionals for Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory.

Local hybrid functionals with position-dependent exact-exchange admixture offer increased flexibility compared to global hybrids. For sufficiently advanced functionals of this type, this is expected to hold also for a wide range of electronic excitations within time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Following a recent semi-numerical implementation of local hybrid functionals for ground-state self-consistent-field calculations (Bahmann, H.; Kaupp, M. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2015, 11, 1540-1548), the first linear-response TDDFT implementation of local hybrids is reported, using a semi-numerical integration technique. The timings and accuracy of the semi-numerical implementation are evaluated by comparison with analytical schemes for time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) and for the TPSSh global hybrid. In combination with the RI approximation to the Coulomb part of the kernel, the semi-numerical implementation is faster than the existing analytical TDDFT/TDHF implementation of global hybrid functionals in the TURBOMOLE code, even for small systems and moderate basis sets. Moreover, timings for global and local hybrids are practically equal for the semi-numerical scheme. The way to TDDFT calculations with local hybrid functionals for large systems is thus now open, and more sophisticated parametrizations of local hybrids may be evaluated.

Local hybrid functionals: an assessment for thermochemical kinetics.

Local hybrid functionals with position-dependent exact-exchange admixture are a new class of exchange-correlation functionals in density functional theory that promise to advance the available accuracy in many areas of application. Local hybrids with different local mixing functions (LMFs) governing the position dependence are validated for the heats of formation of the extended G3/99 set, and for two sets of barriers of hydrogen-transfer and heavy-atom transfer reactions (HTBH38 and NHTBH38 databases). A simple local hybrid Lh-SVWN with only Slater and exact exchange plus local correlation and a one-parameter LMF, g(r)=b(tau(W)(r)tau(r)), performs best and provides overall mean absolute errors for thermochemistry and kinetics that are a significant improvement over standard state-of-the-art global hybrid functionals. In particular, this local hybrid functional does not suffer from the systematic deterioration that standard functionals exhibit for larger molecules. In contrast, local hybrids based on generalized gradient approximation exchange tend to give rise to nonintuitive LMFs, and no improved functionals have been obtained along this route. The LMF is a real-space function and thus can be analyzed in detail. We use, in particular, graphical analyses to rationalize the performance of different local hybrids for thermochemistry and reaction barriers.

A thermochemically competitive local hybrid functional without gradient corrections.

Following the suggestion of local hybrid functionals with position-dependent exact-exchange admixture [J. Jaramillo, G. E. Scuseria, and M. Ernzerhof, J. Chem. Phys. 118, 1068 (2003)], a functional that mixes only local and exact exchange plus local correlation has been constructed. With a simple local mixing function for the position dependence, this Lh-SVWN functional provides atomization energies for the G2-1 set that are competitive with currently available state-of-the-art functionals like, e.g., B3LYP. This is achieved without generalized gradient approximations for exchange or correlation.

From local hybrid functionals to "localized local hybrid" potentials: formalism and thermochemical tests.

Hybrid exchange-correlation functionals with position-dependent exact-exchange admixture (local hybrid functionals) have been implemented self-consistently for the first time. Functional derivatives with respect to the occupied orbitals have been derived and were subsequently transformed into local and multiplicative potentials within the framework of the optimized effective potential. The resulting local and multiplicative Kohn-Sham potentials are termed "localized local hybrid" (LLH) potentials. They have been evaluated in calculations of atomization energies for a series of main-group molecules. It is shown that LLH potentials yield somewhat better thermochemical results than non-self-consistent post-GGA calculations with the same local hybrid energy functionals for orbitals obtained with a different potential. The choice of the "local mixing function" (LMF) is discussed. This is the key quantity for the performance of local hybrid functionals that determines the amount of exact-exchange admixture at a given point in space. Careful analyses of average exact-exchange admixtures and of the spatial variation of two different LMFs for various molecules provide insight into the shortcomings of the currently used local hybrid functionals. Beyond a too large average exact-exchange admixture, both LMFs used appear to provide an unbalanced description of exact-exchange admixture across bonds to hydrogen. LLH potentials open the way for property calculations with local hybrid functionals.