Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of LiBr association in water

A computationally economical scheme which unifies the density functional description of an ionic solute and the classical description of a solvent was developed. The density functional part of the scheme comprises Car-Parrinello and related formalisms. The substantial saving in the computer time is achieved by performing the ab initio molecular dynamics of the solute electronic structure in a relatively small basis set constructed from lowest energy Kohn-Sham orbitals calculated for a single anion in vacuum, instead of using plane wave basis. The methodology permits simulation of an ionic solution for longer time scales while keeping accuracy in the prediction of the solute electronic structure. As an example the association of the Li+-Br- ion-pair system in water is studied. The results of the combined molecular dynamics simulation are compared with that obtained from the classical simulation with ion-ion interaction described by the pair potential of Born-Huggins-Mayer type. The comparison reveals an important role played by the polarization of the Br- ion in the dynamics of ion pair association. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)50241-4].