Transition State Search with ASE using the Nudged Elastic Band method¶
Another way to do a transition state search is using the Nudged Elastic Band method.
This tutorial explains how to setup the calculation to use ASE in combination with ADF. The setup for the native NEB calculation is similar, and only has a few different options in the NEB panel. We will use the SN2 reaction of chloromethane with a chloride ion as an example.
Step 1: Import the initial and final molecule¶
First, download the initial and final geometry:
- Start ADFinputClick on File → Import coordinates... and select the file Chloromethane_TS_initial.xyzAdd a new molecule: Edit → New MoleculeClick on File → Import coordinates... and select the file Chloromethane_TS_final.xyz
You can switch between the molecules and rename them using the buttons at the bottom.
Important
It is important that atoms are ordered in the same way in the initial and in the final molecule.
Step 2: Set the calculation details¶
Now we will set the calculation details.
- Set the Total charge to -1Select the Transition State taskClick the
next to the taskSelect the ‘ASE-NEB’ methodClick the to go to the ‘Nudged Elastic Band’ panelSet the number of images to 3
The default value of the spring constant is fine. For this tutorial we use 3 images. Normally one would use the default (8) or bigger. However, then the calculations would take too much time for a tutorial. The initial and final button allow you to switch between the molecules, and create them if you did not already.
- Use File → Save As to save the file as ‘SN2_NEB’Run the calculation
Step 3: Viewing the Results¶
When the calculation is finished we can take a look at the results using ADFmovie:
- Use SCM → Movie to display a graph with the energy of the NEB images
