Density functional theory incorporating hybrid exchange–correlation functionals has been extraordinarily successful in providing accurate, computationally tractable treatments of molecular properties. However, conventional hybrid functionals can be problematic for solids. Their nonlocal, Hartree–Fock-like exchange term decays slowly and incorporates unphysical features in metals and narrow-bandgap semiconductors. This article provides an overview of our group’s work on designing hybrid functionals for solids. We focus on the Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof screened hybrid functional [J. Chem. Phys. 2003, 118, 8207], its applications to the chemistry and physics of solids and surfaces, and our efforts to build upon its successes.

We propose a general model for the spherically averaged exchange hole corresponding to a generalized gradient approximation (GGA) exchange functional. Parameters are reported for several common GGAs. Our model is based upon that of Ernzerhof and Perdew [J. Chem. Phys. 109, 3313 (1998)]. It improves upon the former by precisely reproducing the energy of the parent GGA, and by enabling fully analytic evaluation of range-separated hybrid density functionals. Analytic results and preliminary thermochemical tests indicate that our model also improves upon the simple, local-density-based exchange hole model of Iikura et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 115, 3540 (2001)].

The ground state correlation energy of the random phase approximation from a ring coupled cluster doubles approach The Journal of Chemical Physics 129, 231101 (2008) We recently demonstrated a connection between the random phase approximation ͑RPA͒ and coupled cluster theory ͓G. E. Scuseria et al., J. Chem. Phys. 129, 231101 ͑2008͔͒. Based on this result, we here propose and test a simple scheme for introducing long-range RPA correlation into density functional theory. Our method provides good thermochemical results and models van der Waals interactions accurately.

Insight into the nature of transient reaction intermediates and mechanistic pathways involved in heterogeneously catalyzed chemical reactions is obtainable from a number of surface spectroscopic techniques. Carrying out these investigations under actual reaction conditions is preferred but remains challenging, especially for catalytic reactions that occur in water. Here, we report the direct spectroscopic study of the catalytic hydrodechlorination of 1,1-dichloroethene in H2O using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). With Pd islands grown on Au nanoshell films, this reaction can be followed in situ using SERS, exploiting the high enhancements and large active area of Au nanoshell SERS substrates, the transparency of Raman spectroscopy to aqueous solvents, and the catalytic activity enhancement of Pd by the underlying Au metal. The formation and subsequent transformation of several adsorbate species was observed. These results provide the first direct evidence of the room-temperature catalytic hydrodechlorination of a chlorinated solvent, a potentially important pathway for groundwater cleanup, as a sequence of dechlorination and hydrogenation steps. More broadly, the results highlight the exciting prospects of studying catalytic processes in water in situ, like those involved in biomass conversion and proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.

Semilocal density functional theory predictions for the barrier heights of representative hydrogen transfer, heavy-atom transfer, and nucleophilic substitution reactions are significantly improved in non-self-consistent calculations using Hartree-Fock orbitals. Orbitals from hybrid calculations yield related improvements. These results provide insight into compensating for one-electron self-interaction error in semilocal density functional theory.