Coupled quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics modeling of metallic materials: Theory and applications

Journal of Materials Research volume 33, pages796–812(2018)Cite this article

Abstract

We review two recent advances in coupled quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) modeling for metallic materials. The QM/MM methods are formulated based on quantum mechanical charge density embedding. In the first method, QM/MM coupling is accomplished by an embedding potential evaluated via orbital-free density functional theory. The charge density embedding in the second QM/MM method is achieved through constrained density functional theory. The extension of QM/MM coupling to the quasicontinuum method is illustrated, offering a route toward quantum mechanical simulations of materials at micron scales and beyond. The theoretical formulations of the QM/MM methods are discussed in detail. We also provide some examples where the QM/MM methods have been applied to understand fundamental physics in a wide range of material problems, ranging from void formation, pipe diffusion along dislocation core, nanoindentation of thin films, hydrogen-assisted cracking, magnetism-induced plasticity to stress-controlled catalysis in metals. An outlook to future development of QM/MM methods for metals is envisioned.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We acknowledge the support of Office of Naval Research (N00014-15-1-2092).

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  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Northridge, Northridge, California, 91330-8268, USA

    Xu Zhang & Gang Lu

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Zhang, X., Lu, G. Coupled quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics modeling of metallic materials: Theory and applications. Journal of Materials Research 33, 796–812 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2018.15

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