Full-quantum descriptions of molecular systems from constrained nuclear–electronic orbital density functional theory

Abstract

We develop a full-quantum formulation of constrained nuclear-electronic orbital density functional theory (cNEO-DFT). This formulation deviates from the conventional Born-Oppenheimer framework, and all nuclei and electrons are treated on an equal footing within the molecular orbital picture. Compared to the conventional DFT, the ground state energy in full-quantum cNEO-DFT inherently includes all vibrational zero-point energies. We also derived and implemented the analytic gradient of the full-quantum cNEO-DFT energy with respect to the quantum nuclear expectation positions. With the analytic gradient, the geometry optimizations are performed, which naturally include the nuclear quantum effects and describe the geometric isotope effects. The full-quantum cNEO-DFT is tested on a series of small molecules and the transition states of two hydrogen transfer reactions. The results are compared with those from conventional DFT, DFT-VPT2, and NEO-DFT with only key protons treated quantum mechanically. It is found that the nuclear quantum effects have notable impacts on molecular equilibrium geometries and transition state geometries. The full-quantum cNEO-DFT can be a promising method for describing the nuclear quantum effects in many chemical processes.

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