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A quantum chemical approach to dynamic properties of real materials

Project description

Pioneering simulation of dynamic properties of real materials

A longstanding objective across research and applied science is the ability to design materials whose properties can be tailored to meet specific functional requirements. To do so, highly accurate ab initio simulations of both excited-state and ground-state properties of atoms, molecules and solids are needed. To date, balancing accuracy with computational load in excited-state dynamic simulations is challenging. The ERC-funded CC4DYN project aims to use a pioneering quantum chemical approach enabling the study of dynamic properties of real materials with unparalleled accuracy. The developed methods will contribute to resolving long-standing discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental results regarding vibrational and optical properties of defects, molecular crystals and layered materials.

Objective

Computational materials science, using ab initio simulations and high-performance computing, is expected to play a key role in realizing the vision of ‘materials by design’. However, the goal to discover game-changing materials with scientific and industrial relevance requires highly accurate ab initio methods for excited state as well as ground state properties of atoms, molecules and solids. So far, due to the computational complexities involved, methods with systematically improvable accuracy for condensed matter systems, such as coupled-cluster theories, are mostly limited to the study of ground state properties in the clamped-nuclei approximation. This ambitious proposal aims at inducing a computational paradigm shift in the study of vibrational and optical properties of real materials by implementing a multitude of novel methods. On the one hand, we propose to reduce the computational cost of time-dependent equation-of-motion coupled-cluster theory by several orders of magnitude compared to existing approaches. On the other hand, coupled-cluster atomic forces will be implemented for machine-learning force fields in the Gaussian approximation potentials framework. Together, the proposed methods have the potential to achieve an unprecedented level of accuracy and system size for the prediction of a wide range of material properties including optical spectra and phonon frequencies. We seek to employ the newly developed approaches to resolve a number of long-standing discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental findings for dynamic properties of defects, molecular crystals and layered materials. These carefully selected systems highlight key problems of currently available ab initio methods and novel approaches that go beyond the state of the art will have an enormous impact in all areas of physics, chemistry and computational materials science.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) ERC-2022-COG

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Host institution

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN
Net EU contribution
€ 1 999 288,00
Address
KARLSPLATZ 13
1040 Wien
Austria
Region
Ostösterreich Wien Wien
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 1 999 288,00

Beneficiaries (1)