CHEM6085: Density Functional Theory

Lecture 8

Gaussian basis sets

C.-K. Skylaris

CHEM6085 Density Functional Theory 1

 Solving the Kohn-Sham equations on a computer
• The SCF procedure involves solving the Kohn-Sham single-electron
equations for the molecular orbitals

• Where the Kohn-Sham potential of the non-interacting electrons is given

by

• We all have some experience in solving equations on paper but how we

do this with a computer?

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 Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals (LCAO)
• We will express the MOs as a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO)

• The strength of the LCAO approach is its general applicability: it can work on
any molecule with any number of atoms

Example:
B
C

AOs on atom A AOs on atom B AOs on atom C

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 Example: find the AOs from which the MOs of the following molecules will
be built

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 Basis functions
• We can take the LCAO concept one step further:
• Use a larger number of AOs (e.g. a hydrogen atom can have more than one s AO,
and some p and d AOs, etc.). This will achieve a more flexible representation of
our MOs and therefore more accurate calculated properties according to the
variation principle
• Use AOs of a particular mathematical form that simplifies the computations (but
are not necessarily equal to the exact AOs of the isolated atoms)

• We call such sets of more general AOs basis functions

• Instead of having to calculate the mathematical form of the MOs
(impossible on a computer) the problem is reduced to determining the MO
expansion coefficients in terms of the basis functions

molecular coefficient
(spatial) orbital (a number, to be
basis function determined by the
(fixed) SCF calculation)

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 Gaussian basis functions
Functions that resemble hydrogen AOs (Slater functions) are very suitable for expanding
MOs because they have the correct shape:
• Near the nucleus (cusp)
• Far from the nucleus (decay like e-ar)
However, Gaussian functions are preferred in practice because they allow for efficient
computation of molecular integrals (simpler formulas)

Slater function

Gaussian function

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 Primitive Gaussian functions

• In the jargon of quantum chemistry a single Gaussian function is called a

primitive Gaussian function, or primitive GTO (Gaussian Type Orbital)

• Some programs use Cartesian primitive GTOs:

• Other programs use Spherical primitive GTOs

• Spherical and Cartesian functions are the same for up to l=1 (p

functions) but differ slightly for l=2 or higher

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 Cartesian primitive Gaussian functions

Similar to atomic orbitals, we define Cartesian Gaussian atomic functions by an

angular momentum “quantum number” l and the numbers k, m and n where
l=k+m+n

s functions d functions

p functions

etc.

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 Spherical primitive Gaussian functions

Similar to atomic orbitals, we define Spherical Gaussian atomic functions by an

angular momentum “quantum number” l and its components m=-l,..., l

s functions
d functions

p functions

etc.

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 Contracted Gaussian functions
E.g. STO-nG functions for the 1s
• In practice, fixed linear
orbital of a hydrogen atom
combinations of “primitive”
Gaussian functions are used STO-1G
• These are called “Contracted
Gaussians” (CGs):

STO-2G

• The simplest kind of CGs are the

STO-nG basis sets
• These basis sets attempt to
approximate Slater-type orbitals STO-3G
(STOs) by n primitive Gaussians

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 Gaussian basis sets
The STO-nG basis sets are rather unsatisfactory as they include only one
contracted Gausssian (CG) per atomic orbital. Improved basis sets are
obtained by including:

• More than one CG per atomic orbital, e.g.: DZ (“double zeta”), TZ (“triple
zeta”), QZ (“quadruple zeta”)

• One CG per “core” atomic orbital and more than one for the valence atomic
orbitals, e.g.: SV, 3-21G, 4-31G, 6-31G, 6-311G

Write down how many CGs some of the above basis sets will include for the
following atoms: H, C, S

And for the following molecules: H2O, CH4

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 Polarisation and diffuse functions
Increasing the number of CGs per atomic orbital will never result in a good
quality basis set. Other types of CGs need to be included, such as:

• CGs of angular momentum higher than in the valence orbitals of each atom.
These “polarisation functions” enhance the “flexibility” of atoms to form
chemical bonds in any direction and hence improve calculated molecular
structures. Examples: 3-21G*, 6-31G*, 6-31G**, DVP, TZP, cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ

• CGs which extend further from the nucleus than the atomic orbitals. Such
“diffuse functions” improve the predicted properties of species with
extended electronic densities such as anions or molecules forming hydrogen
bonds. Examples: 4-31+G, 6-31+G

• Basis sets are considered “balanced” when they include both polarisation and
diffuse functions. Examples: 6-31+G*, 6-311++G**, aug-cc-pVDZ

Write down how many CGs some of the above basis sets will include for the
following atoms: H, F, S and molecules: H2O, CH4

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 The complete basis set limit

• Basis sets are an approximation introduced in order to solve the KS

equations for the MOs on a computer

• The MOs obtained are solutions of the Kohn-Sham equations only

within the “function space” of the basis set used (so solutions
within the STO-3G set of functions, or the 6-31G set, etc.)

• Improving the quality of the basis set requires increasing the

number of CGs

• A complete basis set can represent exactly any molecular orbital

• Unfortunately, complete basis sets tend to have an infinite number

of functions and are therefore not practical for calculations

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 Extrapolation to the complete basis set limit

• We can estimate the

complete basis set result by
systematically increasing
the number of basis
functions and extrapolating
to an infinite-size basis set

• The cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ, cc-

pVQZ, etc, basis sets are an
example of a systematic
series of basis sets that can
be extrapolated to the
complete basis set limit

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Example calculations: Protonation energy of a water molecule

+
+
+

H2O energy H3O+ energy Protonation Protonation

Basis set (Eh) (Eh) energy (Eh) energy (kcal/mol)
STO-3G -75.3133 -75.6817 -0.3684 -231.2
STO-6G -76.0366 -76.4015 -0.3649 -229.0
6-31G -76.3852 -76.6721 -0.2869 -180.1
6-31++G -76.4000 -76.6753 -0.2753 -172.7
6-31G** -76.4197 -76.7056 -0.2859 -179.4
6-31++G** -76.4341 -76.7078 -0.2738 -171.8

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 Example: the available choices of basis set in a quantum chemistry program
3-21g aug-cc-pvqz cc-pvtzfi_sf_fw lanl2dzdp_ecp_polarization
3-21++g aug-cc-pvqz_diffuse cc-pvtzfi_sf_lc lanl2dz_ecp
3-21gs aug-cc-pvt+dz cc-pvtzfi_sf_sc mclean_chandler_vtz
3-21++gs aug-cc-pvt+dz_diffuse cc-pvtz-fit2-1 midi!
3-21gsp aug-cc-pvtz cc-pvtzpt_sf_fw midi_huzinaga
3-21gs_polarization aug-cc-pvtz_diffuse cc-pvtzpt_sf_lc mini_huzinaga
4-22gsp bauschlicher_ano cc-pvtzpt_sf_sc mini_scaled
4-31g binning-curtiss_1d_polarization cc-pvtzseg-opt nasa_ames_ano
6-311g binning-curtiss_df_polarization chipman_dzp_+_diffuse nasa_ames_cc-pcv5z
6-311++g2d_2p binning_curtiss_sv core_val._functions_cc-pcv5z nasa_ames_cc-pcvqz
6-311g2df_2pd binning_curtiss_svp core_val._functions_cc-pcv6z nasa_ames_cc-pcvtz
6-311++g3df_3pd binning_curtiss_vtz core_val._functions_cc-pcvdz nasa_ames_cc-pv5z
6-311gs binning_curtiss_vtzp core_val._functions_cc-pcvqz nasa_ames_cc-pvqz
6-311+gs blaudeau_polarization core_val._functions_cc-pcvtz nasa_ames_cc-pvtz
6-311gs_polarization cc-pcv5z crenbl_ecp partridge_uncontr._1
6-311gss cc-pcv6z crenbs_ecp partridge_uncontr._2
6-311++gss cc-pcvdz d-aug-cc-pv5z partridge_uncontr._3
6-311gss_polarization cc-pcvqz d-aug-cc-pv5z_diffuse pople_2d_2p_polarization
6-31g cc-pcvtz d-aug-cc-pv6z pople_2df_2pd_polarization
6-31++g cc-pv5+dz d-aug-cc-pv6z_diffuse pople_3df_3pd_polarization
6-31g3df_3pd cc-pv5z d-aug-cc-pvdz pople-style_diffuse
6-31g-blaudeau cc-pv5z_dk d-aug-cc-pvdz_diffuse pv6z
6-31gs cc-pv5zfi_sf_fw d-aug-cc-pvqz qmmm_zhang_3-21g_ecp
6-31+gs cc-pv5zfi_sf_lc d-aug-cc-pvqz_diffuse qmmm_zhang_6-31gs_ecp
6-31++gs cc-pv5zfi_sf_sc d-aug-cc-pvtz sadlej_pvtz
6-31gs-blaudeau cc-pv5zpt_sf_fw d-aug-cc-pvtz_diffuse sbkjc_vdz_ecp
6-31gs_polarization cc-pv5zpt_sf_lc demon_coulomb_fitting sdb-aug-cc-pvqz
6-31gss cc-pv5zpt_sf_sc dgauss_a1_dft_coulomb_fitting sdb-aug-cc-pvqz_diffuse
6-31++gss cc-pv6+dz dgauss_a1_dft_exchange_fitting sdb-aug-cc-pvtz
6-31gss_polarization cc-pv6z dgauss_a2_dft_coulomb_fitting sdb-aug-cc-pvtz_diffuse
ahlrichs_coulomb_fitting cc-pvd+dz dgauss_a2_dft_exchange_fitting sdb-cc-pvqz
ahlrichs_polarization cc-pvdz dhms_polarization sdb-cc-pvtz
ahlrichs_pvdz cc-pvdz_dk dunning-hay_diffuse sto-2g
ahlrichs_tzv cc-pvdzfi_sf_fw dunning-hay_double_rydberg sto-3g
ahlrichs_vdz cc-pvdzfi_sf_lc dunning-hay_rydberg sto-3gs
ahlrichs_vtz cc-pvdzfi_sf_sc dz_+_double_rydberg_dunning-hay sto-3gs_polarization
aug-cc-pcv5z cc-pvdz-fit2-1 dz_dunning sto-6g
aug-cc-pcvdz cc-pvdzpt_sf_fw dzp_+_diffuse_dunning stuttgart_rlc_ecp
aug-cc-pcvqz cc-pvdzpt_sf_lc dzp_dunning stuttgart_rsc_1997_ecp
aug-cc-pcvtz cc-pvdzpt_sf_sc dzp_+_rydberg_dunning stuttgart_rsc_ano_ecp
aug-cc-pv5+dz cc-pvdzseg-opt dz_+_rydberg_dunning stuttgart_rsc_segmented_ecp
aug-cc-pv5+dz_diffuse cc-pvq+dz dzvp2_dft_orbital sv_+_double_rydberg_dunning-hay
aug-cc-pv5z cc-pvqz dzvp_dft_orbital sv_dunning-hay
aug-cc-pv5z_diffuse cc-pvqz_dk feller_misc._cvdz svp_+_diffuse_dunning-hay
aug-cc-pv6+dz cc-pvqzfi_sf_fw feller_misc._cvqz svp_+_diffuse_+_rydberg
aug-cc-pv6+dz_diffuse cc-pvqzfi_sf_lc feller_misc._cvtz svp_dunning-hay
aug-cc-pv6z cc-pvqzfi_sf_sc gamess_pvtz svp_+_rydberg_dunning-hay
aug-cc-pv6z_diffuse cc-pvqzpt_sf_fw gamess_vtz sv_+_rydberg_dunning-hay
aug-cc-pvd+dz cc-pvqzpt_sf_lc glendening_polarization tz_dunning
aug-cc-pvd+dz_diffuse cc-pvqzpt_sf_sc hay-wadt_mb_n+1_ecp tzvp_dft_orbital
aug-cc-pvdz cc-pvqzseg-opt hay-wadt_vdz_n+1_ecp wachters+f
aug-cc-pvdz_diffuse cc-pvt+dz hondo7_polarization wtbs
aug-cc-pvq+dz cc-pvtz huzinaga_polarization
aug-cc-pvq+dz_diffuse cc-pvtz_dk lanl2dzdp_ecp

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 Basis sets on the Web
• Many kinds of basis sets have been developed over the years
• Most are available for download from websites, such as
•https://bse.pnl.gov/bse/portal
•http://www.emsl.pnl.gov/forms/basisform.html

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 Exponents and contraction coefficients
Basis sets are essential input data for calculations. Gaussian bases are
represented by two kinds of numbers:
1) Exponents
2) Contraction coefficients

Example: STO-3G
basis for hydrogen contraction
exponents
coefficients

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 Downloading basis sets
Example: Data needed for calculation on water with 6-31G** basis

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 Homework

1) Describe how many and what type (s, p, d) primitive and contracted Gaussians you will have in the STO-2G, DZP
and 3-21G basis sets for the O atom.

2) The 3-21G* basis set for a carbon atom can be input into a quantum chemistry program using the following
parameters (exponents and contraction coefficients):

C S
172.256000000 0.06176690
25.910900000 0.35879400
5.533350000 0.70071300
C SP
3.664980000 -0.39589700 0.23646000
0.770545000 1.21584000 0.86061900
C SP
0.195857000 1.00000000 1.00000000

Which of the above parameters describe functions for the core electrons, valence electrons and for polarisation?
Describe how you can “uncontract” the basis set and what effect this would have on your calculations.

3) Substitute the expression for the basis set expansion of a molecular orbital into the Schrödinger equation for the
Kohn-Sham orbitals and derive a matrix representation of the Schrödinger equation, involving the “matrix
elements” of the Kohn-Sham Hamiltonian and the overlap matrix of the basis functions
(which are not orthogonal). This matrix equation can be solved on a computer to obtain the orbital expansion
coefficients (diagonalisation of the Hamiltonian matrix) and is part of the traditional SCF procedure.

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 5-minute quiz
Name : Date :
Surname:

1) Why are Slater functions more suitable than Gaussians as basis functions?

2) What do we mean when we say that a basis set contains “polarisation functions” and what do we mean by
“diffuse functions”?

3) What is a “double-zeta basis set”? Would you expect a triple-zeta basis set to give better results than STO-3G
and why?

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