Vibrational frequencies and stark tuning rate with continuum electro-chemical models and grand canonical density functional theory

Abstract: Simulating electrochemical interfaces using density functional theory (DFT) requires incorporating the effects of electrochemical potential. The electrochemical potential acts as a new degree of freedom that can effectively tune DFT results as electrochemistry does. Typically, this is implemented by adjusting the number of electrons on the solid surface within the Kohn-Sham (KS) equation, under the framework of an implicit solvent model and the Poisson-Boltzmann equation (PB equation), thereby modulating the potential difference between the solid and liquid. These simulations are often referred to as grand-canonical or fixed-potential DFT calculations. To apply this additional degree of freedom, Legendre transforms are employed in the calculation of free energy, establishing the relationship between the grand potential and the free energy. Other key physical properties, such as atomic forces, vibrational frequencies, and Stark tuning rates, can be derived based on this relationship rather than directly using Legendre transforms. This paper begins by discussing the numerical methodologies for the continuum model of electrolyte double layers and grand-potential algorithms. We then show that atomic forces under grand-canonical ensemble match the Hellmann-Feynman forces observed in canonical ensemble, as previously established. However, vibrational frequencies and Stark tuning rates exhibit distinct behaviors between these conditions. Through finite displacement methods, we confirm that vibrational frequencies and Stark tuning rates exhibit differences between grand-canonical and canonical ensembles.