Machine Learning for Polaronic Materials: TiO2(110) at the nanoscale
Michele Reticcioli a b, Firat Yalcin b, Simon Trivisonne b, Carla Verdi c
a CNR-SPIN LAquila, Italy
b University of Vienna, Austria
c University of Queensland, Australia
Proceedings of MATSUS Fall 2025 Conference (MATSUSFall25)
D2 Theory and Modelling for Next-Generation Energy Materials - #TMEM
València, Spain, 2025 October 20th - 24th
Organizer: Shuxia Tao
Invited Speaker, Michele Reticcioli, presentation 176
Publication date: 21st July 2025

The combination of machine learning (ML) with density functional theory (DFT) accelerates material simulations, expanding both spatial and temporal scales. However, current ML methods struggle to address polaron trapping. Polarons are quasi-particles arising from electron-phonon coupling in a wide range range of materials and shape the properties of the hosting systems. Therefore, understanding polaron effects is key for technonlogical applications. We present a novel machine learning force field (MLFF) approach that incorporates polaron trapping descriptors, enabling large-scale studies of polaronic materials.
Using TiO$_2$(110) as a case study, we reveal how dopants and atomic vacancies affect polaron configurations and drive catalytic CO adsorption. Additionally, our method captures the dynamic evolution of polarons with unprecedented statistical robustness.
This work advances fundamental understanding of defect-polaron interactions while offering a fully automated and efficient computational suite for the study of polaronic materials, facilitating characterization and design of metal oxide catalysts.
 

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