Improved SPC force field of water based on the dielectric constant: SPC/ε

In a recent work, Fuentes and Alejandre (2014) found that for TIP4P models there is a dipole moment of minimum density at 240 K and that the Lennard-Jones parameters can be adjusted to match the experimental dielectric constant at 300 K and the temperature of maximum density, respectively. The same procedure is used in this work to reparameterize the simple point charge (SPC) model keeping the original geometry. The new model fails to reproduce the experimental self-diffusion coefficient and shear viscosity but improves the results at different temperatures and pressures of dielectric constant, isothermal compressibility, thermal expansion coefficient, surface tension, coexisting densities at the liquid-vapor interface, equation of state of ice Ih and equation of state of liquids at high pressures. A second model that reproduces the dielectric constant, self-diffusion coefficient and shear viscosity is proposed but the temperature of maximum density is 250 K, compared with the experimental value of 277 K. Both models improve the SPC/E results for almost all properties. The TIP3P model was also analyzed but the liquid density at 240 K always increases and a minimum in the dipole moment was not found. It is not possible to adjust for that model the charge distribution and short range interaction parameters to reproduce at the same time the target properties. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.