Under CopyrightPeguiron, A.A.PeguironColombi Ciacchi, L.L.Colombi CiacchiDe Vita, A.A.De VitaKermode, J.R.J.R.KermodeMoras, G.G.Moras2022-03-043.5.20162015https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/23953210.1063/1.4907786We report comparisons between energy-based quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and buffered force-based QM/MM simulations in silica. Local quantities-such as density of states, charges, forces, and geometries-calculated with both QM/MM approaches are compared to the results of full QM simulations. We find the length scale over which forces computed using a finite QM region converge to reference values obtained in full quantum-mechanical calculations is similar to 10 angstrom rather than the similar to 5 angstrom previously reported for covalent materials such silicon. Electrostatic embedding of the QM region in the surrounding classical point charges gives only a minor contribution to the force convergence. While the energy-based approach provides accurate results in geometry optimizations of point defects, we find that the removal of large force errors at the QM/MM boundary provided by the buffered force-based scheme is necessary for accurate constrained geometry optimizations where Si-O bonds are elongated and for finite-temperature molecular dynamics simulations of crack propagation. Moreover, the buffered approach allows for more flexibility, since special-purpose QM/MM coupling terms that link QM and MM atoms are not required and the region that is treated at the QM level can be adaptively redefined during the course of a dynamical simulation.ensilicachemical bondelectrostaticsquartzvacancies530journal article