13.4.1 Overview

The conductance and current-voltage relationships of molecular junctions can be calculated using either Landauer or Non-Equilibrium Green’s Function (NEGF) levels of theory. In both cases, the Green’s function formulation is employed using a chosen electronic structure level. See Refs.  for further introduction.

In molecular junctions the current-voltage curve depends on the electron transmission function, which can be calculated using the quantum transport code developed by the Dunietz group (Kent State). The scattering-free approach, (Landauer), provides a zero-bias limit, the non-equilibrium approach, (NEGF), provides a voltage-dependent transmission by solving iteratveily for the bias-affected electronic density.

This quantum transport utility is invoked by setting the $rem variable TRANS_ENABLE.

In addition to information included in the Q-Chem output file the following files are generated:

• •

  transmission.txt (Transmission function in the requested energy window)

• •

  TDOS.txt (Total density of states)

• •

  current.txt (I-V plot only for the Landauer level)

• •

  IV-NEGF-all.txt (I-V plot obtained by NEGF method)

The transport flag can be used to print out data matrices of the junction or the bulk models that can be used in subsequent transport calculations:

• •

  FAmat.dat (Hamiltonian matrix for follow up calculations and analysis)

• •

  Smat.dat (Overlap matrix for follow up calculations and analysis)

• •

  DAmat.dat (Density matrix for follow up calculations and analysis [only for NEGF])

(In case of printing bulk information the files need to be renamed as explained below.)

In the case of unrestricted spin the output file names are appended by A[B] to indicate the spin state. (e.g. transmissionA.txt and transmissionB.txt). We note that in the closed-shell spin-restricted case, the transmission.txt corresponds to the $\alpha$ spin, where the total transmission due to the spin symmetry is twice the values included in the file.

The Landauer level generates a single set of output files. NEGF calculation provides directories for the different biases where the directories Vbias1, Vbias2, $\mathrm{\cdots }$ (the numbers in the directory names are used to index the bias voltage) contain the output files at the corresponding bias.

The T-Chem program allows for large flexibility in setting up the transport calculation and therefore requires setting several parameters. Accordingly, the actual molecular junction model is partitioned into domains representing the electrode self-energy (SEs) and the central bridge region, and the procedure by which the SEs are calculated.

This setup is addressed in two transport-specific sections in the input file:

• •

  $trans_model (molecular junction regions)

• •

  $trans_method (sets various transport flags include details for the SE evaluation, NEGF integration, grid parameters, and various input parameters as the Fermi energy and the bias.)

The $trans_model section partitions the molecular model, assigning the atomic basis functions to different regions. There are no default values. The different regions are set as illustated in Fig. 13.1 and Fig. 13.2 for the Landauer and NEGF levels, respectively.

The parameters in the $trans_model section can be provided either in terms of the atom numbers or basis functions. Note:  Only one set of these numbers is required. The assignment based on trans_latom etc. has priority.

• •

  trans_latom: INTEGER, atom index, where the central/bridge region starts (the first atom in junction area).

• •

  trans_ratom: INTEGER, atom index, where the central/bridge region ends (the last atom in junction area).

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  trans_lgatom: INTEGER, atom index where the repeat unit of the left electrode starts.

• •

  trans_rgatom: INTEGER, atom index where the repeat unit of the right electrode ends.

Atoms within numbers trans_lgatom, trans_lgatom+1, .., trans_latom-1 define the repeat unit of the left electrode (similarly for right electrode).

• •

  trans_lbasis: INTEGER, the number of basis functions appearing to the left of the device region (the index of the first AO within the central region).

• •

  trans_rbasis: INTEGER, the number of basis functions appearing to the right of the device region right electrode (total number of basis functions minus this number equals last AO that is within the device).

• •

  trans_lgbasis: INTEGER, the number of basis functions of the repeat unit of the left electrode.

• •

  trans_rgbasis: INTEGER, the number of basis functions of the repeat unit of the right electrode.

For the NEGF calculation, trans_lbasis and trans_lgbasis must be the same number as shown in Fig. 13.2 (also for trans_rbasis and trans_rgbasis). The NEGF calculations require precalculated bulk data, while the Landauer can use such precalculated data as an option.

The example in Fig. 13.1 includes a total of 18 atoms, where the Au and Ag basis sets each contain 22 basis functions per atom. The repeat unit includes a pair of Au Ag atoms. Therefore, the parameters should be given as follows (only the first two columns are required, the rest are included for explanation):

Alternatively this section can be based on the atom numbers corresponding to their position in the $molecule section:

In this example, we have used the same repeat unit for the left and right electrodes; this symmetry is not required.

WARNING: In both illustrated examples atomic wires are used: Au/Ag wire in the Landauer case and Al wire for the NEGF example. Here The Au/Ag pair or a single Al atom represent a bulk repeat unit, in more detailed models it is essential that the atoms within the unit are introduced at the same order in all units. All bulk layers have to appear in order (”left to right”) including those units that are designated to be the first and last bulk unit included within the central region.

Note:  The order of atoms in the $molecule section is important and assumes the following: Repeating units (left) - Molecular Junction - Repeating units (right)

The atoms are provided first by the leftmost repeat unit in the left electrode then proceeds to the next repeat unit up to the surface unit. Next the bridge atoms are provided followed by the right surface unit and the right electrode region. The right electrode region starts with the surface layer and ends with the most distant layer within the bulk. The atoms order within each of the included electrode repeat units must be consistent. The atoms order within the bridge region (excluding the electrode repeat unit atoms) is arbitrary.

That is, the order of atoms in the molecule section has to adhere to the following:

1. 1.

   atoms of the leftmost repeat unit

2. 2.

   atoms of the next repeat unit(s) (if avaialble)

3. 3.

   atoms of the left surface unit device

4. 4.

   bridge atoms

5. 5.

   atoms of the right surface unit

6. 6.

   atoms of the next right electrode unit(s) (if avaialble)

7. 7.

   atoms of the rightmost repeat unit

T-Chem allows for complete flexibility in determining the different regions of the electrode models. As a consequence, incorrect setting of the regions cannot be caught by the program and may result in transmission functions that are unphysical (e.g. large or even negative values). Such errors can occur where the cluster model is partitioned (by mistake) within the orbital space of an atom. Regions should be defined between the repeat units. The atoms within each repeat unit must be always provided in the same internal order, and must be consistent with the order (and orientation!) used in the precalculation of the bulk model (if employed).

Note:  At least a single repeat unit of the electrodes should be included in the bridge region. With the Landauer model, if trans_readhs == 0, then at least one unit beyond the bridge region has to be included, an additional unit (total of two at least) is required, when also trans_method != 0.

The necessary parameters in $trans_method section are listed as follows:

For trans_readhs = 1, the paramters for parsing the precalculated bulk matrices ( FAmat2l.dat, etc) have to be provided. These indices define the regions within the bulk full model space to set the onsite and coupling matrcies for the SE calculations.

• •

  trans_totorb2 (Integer):
  Total number of basis functions in the electrode models (if set, then same size is assumed for both electrodes) (no default value).

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  trans_totorb2l: Integer number, total number of basis functions in left electrode model (no default value).

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  trans_totorb2r: Integer number, total number of basis functions in right electrode model (no default value).

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  trans_startpoint: Integer number, start point (basis number) for reading the TB integrals. Note, the basis number, that is, index number of basis function starts from 0. (if set, then same size is assumed for both electrodes) (default value 0).

• •

  trans_startpointl: given as integer number, left start point (basis number) for reading the TB integrals. Note, the basis number, that is, index number of basis function starts from 0. (default value 0).

• •

  trans_startpointr: given as integer number, right start point (basis number) for reading the TB integrals. Note, the basis number, that is, index number of basis function starts from 0. (no default value).

Note:  NEGF requires trans_readhs to be set where SEs are precalculated. The Landauer level can obtain bulk parameters from the current job of a molecular junction model.

Options to control the output:

trans_npoint (Integer):
Number of grid points within the energy window of the transmission spectra calculation.
300 Default value.

trans_printdos (Integer):
Controls the printout of TDOS.
0 Default, no total DOS printing. 1 A TDOS (of the junction region) will be printed to TDOS.txt (closed shell).

trans_printiv (Integer):
Calculated current (at the zero bias case).
0 Default, no current calculated and printed 1 Current will be printed to current.txt (closed shell) or currentA/B.txt (unrestricted or open shell).

trans_ipoints (Integer):
Number of points for current calculation (at the zero bias case).
300 Default value.

The following parameters control the imaginary smearing in calculating GFs:

trans_greens (Double):
Imaginary smearing/Broadening (in eV) added to the surface Green’s function (only relevant for trans_method==0).
0.07 Default

trans_devsmear (Double):
Imaginary smearing (in eV) added to the real Hamiltonian in central region retarded GF evaluation.
0.01 Default

trans_bulksmear (Double):
Imaginary smearing (in eV) added to the real Hamiltonian in electrodes GF evaluation (relevant for trans_method>0).
0.01 Default

trans_efermi (Double):
Fermi energy of the electrode (for $\alpha$ spin) (in eV) used for defining the energy window of the T(E).
-5.0 Default

trans_efermib (Double):
Fermi energy for $\beta$ spin (in eV). If this is not given, the same value of $\alpha$ spin is used.

trans_adjustefermi (Integer):
Resetting of the Fermi energy (FE) in NEGF using trans_enable = 3 or 4
0 Default. Fixed FE specified by trans_efermi (and trans_efermib) is used. 1 FE is chosen as midpoint of HOMO and LUMO levels 2 FE is adjusted so that charge neutrality is satisfied (recommended for zero bias calculation to establish the Fermi energy of the model)

Options 1, 2 use the same FE for $\alpha$ and $\beta$ spins. Negative options allow for different FEs for $\alpha$ and $\beta$ spins.

trans_vmax (Double):
Maximum voltage bias (V).
1.0 Default

Note:  The default energy window for transmission and current calculations is defined as: trans_emin = trans_efermi - trans_vmax/2 and trans_emax = trans_efermi + trans_vmax/2 if trans_emin and trans_emax are not given.

The trans_emin and trans_emax values can be set to determine the energy window for calculating the transmission function (both must be specified). If specified, these values will override the window defined by trans_efermi and trans_vmax values.

The following paramter establish the voltages for the NEGF level (trans_enable==4):

trans_vstart (Double):
(Only for trans_enable = 4). Starting voltage bias (V). The bias voltage increases from trans_vstart to trans_vmax in the NEGF calculation.
0.0 Default

trans_nvbias (Integer):
(Only for trans_enable = 4), number of points of bias voltage.
1 Default The bias voltage values to be calculated are defined by dividing the range between trans_vstart and trans_vmax with this number. For example, when trans_vstart = 0.0, trans_vmax = 1.0, and trans_nvbias = 5, the voltages are 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0. For the case of trans_nvbias = 1, the voltage to be calculated is trans_vmax.

trans_gridoffset (Double):
(Only for trans_enable = 4), Offset distance (in A) to define extended grid box size used for obtaining matrix elements that involve the electrostatic potential in the Fock matrix. See below for details.
5.0 Default

The bias voltage of $+V/2$ is added on the left electrode, and $-V/2$ on the right electrode, where the bias potential slope is along $x$-axis. The offset should be set to the location of the left surface layer from the leftmost atom in the atomic coordinates (the first atom in the molecule section). The box size is defined by adding/substracting the offset distance to maximum/minimum of each of the $x$, $y$ and $z$ atomic coordinates. The bias voltage $V(𝐫)$ on the grid points in the box is used for calculating correction term for the Fock matrix (i.e. $⟨i|V|j⟩$).

Note that this grid is not for obtaining electrostatic potential by solving the Poisson equation. The setup of the Poisson equation solver is described below. The grid for the Poisson equation is given by $plots block keyword (see also example below). The same grid size is used for both boxes.

The following are parameters for addressing the NEGF iterations, trans_enable = 3, 4:

trans_restart (Integer):
Flag to restart reading the density matrix files, DAmat.dat (and DBmat.dat) from the "TransRestart/" directory.
0 No restart (default). 1 Read file of density matrix.

trans_mixing (Double):
Mixing ratio of DIIS mixing method for updating the central block of density matrix in the NEGF iteration.
1.0 Default

trans_mixhistory (Integer):
The number of NEGF iteration steps in which the history of density matrix is stored for the DIIS method.
40 Default

The following parameters are used to set the NEGF density integration:

trans_dehcir (Double):
Grid size, dE (in eV), for integrating the Greens function on the half circle path on imaginary plane.
1.0 Default

trans_delpart (Double):
Grid size, dE (in eV), for integrating the Greens function on the path of the linear part on imaginary plane.
0.01 Default

trans_debwin (Double):
(For trans_enable = 4). Grid size, dE (in eV), for integration on the non-equilibrium term.
0.01 Default

trans_numres (Integer):
The number of poles at Fermi energy enclosed by the contour into the imaginary plane.
100 Default

Parameters for controlling the electrostatic potential calculation, the Poisson solver:

trans_peconv (Integer):
The convergence criteria of the iteration of the Poisson equation. The threshold is 10${}^{-n}$ hartree of maximum energy difference over the all grid points.
9 Default

trans_pemaxite (Integer):
Maximum iterations of the Poisson solver.
1000 Default

trans_readesp (Integer):
Storing or reading in the electrostatic potential. The data is stored in "ReadInESP/" directory.
-1 Write the ESP data to the "ReadInESP/" directory at the first step and stop calculation. 0 Write the ESP data to the "ReadInESP/" at the first step and continue calculation using it (default). 1 Read the pre-calculated read-in ESP data from "ReadInESP/" and continue calculation.

As an example of the Landauer calculation, the sample Q-Chem input is given below.

A sample for unrestricted spin calculation can be found in the $QC/samples/tchem directory.

For NEGF calculations, note the following comments:

• •

  Only WBL method for evaluating self-energy is available for the NEGF in the current version (trans_method = 0)

• •

  In the $plots section (when defining a grid box for the Poisson equation solver), the grid box region must cover all atoms except for the left and right electrode parts as defined in $trans_model. All integer index flags in $plots can be 0.

• •

  For calculations on bulk repeat unit cluster, the structure and orientation of the repeat unit must be consistent with the unit included in the junction region.

• •

  Fermi energy adjustment to satisfy charge neutrality (trans_adjustefermi = 2 or 3) are recommended at zero bias (trans_enable = 3) before performing a full NEGF calculation.

• •

  The criterion for convergence in the NEGF iterations is the maximum difference in density matrix elements, and is not based on energy.

A NEGF calculation involves the following steps:

Step 1: Pre-calculations:
A: Hamiltonian and overlap matrices of the repeat units in the electrodes (required; obtained using Trans_enable == -1 on the bulk model)
B: A converged junction electronic density by standard DFT (recommended; a conventional Q-Chem restart file obtained at the DFT level for the junctional model)
C: Electrostatic potential of large electrode region (optional)

Step 2: Self-consistent Greens function calculation at zero bias:
The resulting convered zero-bias density matrices should be used for the biased NEGF calculations.

Step 3: NEGF calculations up to the desired bias.

Example of these steps applied to C${}_2$ between two aluminum electrodes:

Note: Make sure that bulk electrode files are in place for both electrodes.

As preparation for the next step, the following files and directories are necessary:

1. 1.

   In the same way as step 2, FAmat2l.dat, FAmat2r.dat, Smat2l.dat, and Smat2r.dat (also FBmat2l.dat and FBmat2r.dat for spin-unrestricted calculations) must be placed.

2. 2.

   Restart directory for Q-Chem generated in the step 2 must be copied to here (only coordinates are used).

3. 3.

   T-Chem Restart directory "TransRestart/" for density matrix must be created and DAmat.dat (and DBmat.dat for spin-unrestricted) generated in the step 2 must be copied or linked to the directory.

4. 4.

   Electrostatic potential data in "ReadInESP/" directory used in the step 2 must be copied to here.

5. 5.

   Set Fermi energy obtained from Step 2 using the trans_fermi (recommended).