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Benchmarking Universal Machine Learning Force Fields with Hydrogen-Bonding Cooperativity

Year:    2025

Author:    Xinping Feng, You Xu, Jing Huang

Communications in Computational Chemistry, Vol. 7 (2025), Iss. 2 : pp. 152–160

Abstract

Machine learning force fields (MLFFs) offer a promising balance between quantum mechanical (QM) accuracy and molecular mechanics efficiency. While MLFFs have shown strong performance in modeling short-range interactions and reproducing potential energy surfaces, their ability to capture long-range cooperative effects remains underexplored. In this study, we assess the ability of three MLFF models — ANI, MACE-OFF, and Orb — to reproduce cooperative interactions arising from environmental induction and dispersion, which are essential for many biomolecular processes. Using a recently proposed framework, we quantify hydrogen bond (H-bond) cooperativity in N-methylacetamide polymers. Our results show that all MLFFs capture cooperativity to some extent, with MACE-OFF yielding the closest agreement with QM data. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating many-body effects in MLFFs and suggest that H-bond cooperativity can serve as a useful benchmark for improving their physical fidelity.

Journal Article Details

Publisher Name:    Global Science Press

Language:    English

DOI:    https://doi.org/10.4208/cicc.2025.90.02

Communications in Computational Chemistry, Vol. 7 (2025), Iss. 2 : pp. 152–160

Published online:    2025-01

AMS Subject Headings:    Global Science Press

Copyright:    COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press

Pages:    9

Keywords:    Machine learning force field cooperative effects self-assembly neural network potential hydrogen bond.

Author Details

Xinping Feng

You Xu

Jing Huang