van der Waals interaction energies for ferric ion sensors using prismatic and cylindrical pore approximations for a MOF pore

Abstract

Using the Lennard–Jones potential, we determine analytical expressions for van der Waals interaction energies between a point and a rectangular prism-shaped pore, writing them in terms of standard elementary functions. The parameter values for a new ferric ion sensor are used to compare these calculations with the cylindrical pore approximation for the interactions between an ion and a metal organic framework (MOF) pore. The results using the prismatic pore approximation predict the same qualitative outcomes as a cylindrical pore approximation. However, the prismatic approximation predicts lower magnitudes for both the interaction potential energy minimum and the force maximum, since the average distance from the centre-line to the surface of the prism is greater. We suggest that in some circumstances it is sufficient to use the simpler cylindrical approximation, provided that the cylinder radius is chosen so that the cross-sectional area is equal to the area of the prism pore opening. However, atoms at the nodes should remain approximated by semi-infinite lines. We also determine the interaction between a second ferric ion and a blocked MOF pore; as expected, the second ferric ion experiences a force away from the pore, implying that approaching ferric ions can only occupy vacant MOF pores.