Negative Electron Affinities and Derivative Discontinuity Contribution from a Generalized Gradient Approximation Exchange Functional

Two methods to calculate negative electron affinities systematically from ground-state density functional methods are presented. One makes use of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy shift provided by approximate inclusion of derivative discontinuity in the nearly correct asymptotic potential (NCAP) nonempirical, constraint-based generalized gradient approximation exchange functional. The other uses a second-order perturbation calculation of the derivative discontinuity based on the NCAP exchange-correlation potential. On a set of thirty-eight molecules, NCAP leads to a rather accurate description that is improved further through the perturbation correction. The results presented show the importance of the asymptotic behavior of the exchange-correlation potential in the calculation of negative electron affinities as well as demonstrating the versatility of the NCAP functional.