Showing posts with label entropy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entropy. Show all posts

28 August 2015

623. Comparing frequency calculations in G09 and NWChem -- the importance of grid density

The vibrational entropy term will differ between calculations done in gaussian and nwchem unless you use "grid xfine" in nwchem. That the grid density is important is nothing new, but the magnitude of the effect on the entropy surprised me.

The difference can be large -- 30 cal/molK for [PPh4]+ at pbe0/cc-pvdz -- which becomes quite significant when multiplied by T (e.g. 298.15 K).

Note that the rotational entropy term also may differ, but that this would be due to different uses of symmetry in the calculations: http://molecularmodelingbasics.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/conformational-and-rotational-entropy.html

If you turn off symmetry (noautosym) in nwchem the rotational entropy will not be corrected. I've noticed that Gaussian, on the other hand, will sneakily apply correction if it finds an acceptable symmetry even if you request nosymm, so make sure that you scan through the output carefully.

Either way, vibrational entropy is not symmetry dependent. Instead you will have to worry about the grid fine-ness when comparing outputs.

If your molecule is very small, such as benzene or tetramethylphosphonium, it seems that you don't have to worry about this. However, even fairly small molecules such as [PPh4]+ will be affected.

Conv. Dens. = Convergence Density


CodeSymmGridConv. Dens.DFT EnergyZPEHCorrS(tot)S(trans)S(rot)S(vib)
G09NF1E-8-1266.584241520.3705160.389751147.07643.35835.00968.708
G09NU1E-8-1266.584303740.3704640.389691146.82943.35835.00968.461
NWNX1E-8-1266.584552230.3703480.389549146.69743.33934.99468.365
NWNX1E-5-1266.584552220.3703480.389549146.70443.33934.99468.371
NWYF1E-5-1266.584536840.3700340.385683118.02343.33933.61741.067
NWYF1E-8-1266.584536840.3700340.385683118.02343.33933.61741.067
NWNF1E-5-1266.584549280.3700340.385683119.39443.33934.99441.062
NWNF1E-8-1266.584549290.3700340.385683119.39443.33934.99441.061
NWYX1E-5-1266.584552740.3703480.389549145.33143.33933.61768.376
NWYX1E-8-1266.584552750.3703480.389549145.33743.33933.61768.382

F=fine. X=Extrafine. U=Ultrafine.
S(rot) values in blue are symmetry corrected. That's completely normal.

With "grid fine" NWChem gives a very different result to G09.

You can see the difference in the predicted IR spectra as well.

Fine (NWChem) (blue rings) vs G09 (red circles):
"grid xfine" (NWChem) (blue rings) vs G09 (red circles):