Q-Chem incorporates the Natural Bond Orbital package (v. 5.0 and 6.0) for molecular properties and wave function analysis. The NBO 5.0 package is invoked by setting the $rem variable NBO to TRUE and is initiated after the SCF wave function is obtained.
Note: If switched on for a geometry optimization, the NBO package will only be invoked at the end of the last optimization step.
Users should consult the NBO User’s Manual for options and details relating to exploitation of the features offered in this package. The NBO 6.0 package [609, 610] can be downloaded by the user from nbo6.chem.wisc.edu, and can be invoked by: (a) setting the NBOEXE environment variable, and (b) include both NBO = TRUE and RUN_NBO6 = TRUE in the Q-Chem input file.
NBO analysis is also available for excited states calculated using CIS or TDDFT. Excited-state NBO analysis is still in its infancy, and users should be aware that the convergence of the NBO search procedure may be less well-behaved for excited states than it is for ground states, and may require specification of additional NBO parameters in the $nbo section that is described below. Consult Ref. Weinhold:2005 for details and suggestions.
NBO
Controls the use of the NBO package.
TYPE:
INTEGER
DEFAULT:
0
OPTIONS:
0
Do not invoke the NBO package.
1
Do invoke the NBO package, for the ground state.
2
Invoke the NBO package for the ground state, and also each
CIS, RPA, or TDDFT excited state.
RECOMMENDATION:
None
The general format for passing options from Q-Chem to the NBO program is shown below:
$nbo
{NBO program keywords, parameters and options}
$end
Note: (1) $rem variable NBO must be set to TRUE before the $nbo keyword is recognized.
(2) Q-Chem does not support facets of the NBO package which require multiple job runs