Cohesive properties of noble metals by van der Waals-corrected density functional theory: Au, Ag, and Cu as case studies

The cohesive energy, equilibrium lattice constant, and bulk modulus of Au, Ag, and Cu noble metals are computed by different van der Waals (vdW)-corrected density functional theory (DFT) methods, including vdW-DF, vdW-DF2, vdW-DF-cx, rVV10, and PBE-D. Two specifically designed methods are also developed in order to effectively include dynamical screening effects: the DFT/vdW-WF2p method, based on the generation of maximally localized Wannier functions, and the RPAp scheme (in two variants), based on a single-oscillator model of the localized electron response. Comparison with results obtained without explicit inclusion of van der Waals effects, such as with the local density approximation (LDA), PBE, PBEsol, or the hybrid PBE0 functional, elucidates the importance of a suitable description of screened van der Waals interactions even in the case of strong metal bonding. Many-body effects are also quantitatively evaluated within the RPAp approach.