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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
Published on: April 12, 2019
Systematic comparison of force fields for microscopic simulations of NaCl in aqueous solutions: diffusion, free
Michael Patra1, Mikko Karttunen
1Biophysics and Statistical Mechanics Group, Laboratory for Computational Engineering, Helsinki University of Technology, PO Box 9203, FIN-02015 HUT, Finland. patra@lorentz.leidenuniv.nl
Abstract:
In this article we compare different force fields that are widely used (Gromacs, Charmm-22/x-Plor, Charmm-27, Amber-1999, OPLS-AA) in biophysical simulations containing aqueous NaCl. We show that the uncertainties of the microscopic parameters of, in particular, sodium, and, to a lesser extent, chloride, translate into large differences in the computed radial-distribution functions. This uncertainty reflect the incomplete experimental knowledge of the structural properties of ionic aqueous solutions at finite molarity. We discuss possible implications on the computation of potential of mean force and effective potentials.
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