Minerals 2014, 4, 345-387; doi:10.3390/min4020345 OPEN ACCESS minerals ISSN 2075-163X www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals Review Computational Redox Potential Predictions: Applications to Inorganic and Organic Aqueous Complexes, and Complexes Adsorbed to Mineral Surfaces Krishnamoorthy Arumugam and Udo Becker * Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 1100 North University Avenue, 2534 C.C. Little, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1005, USA; E-Mail:
[email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-734-615-6894; Fax: +1-734-763-4690. Received: 11 February 2014; in revised form: 3 April 2014 / Accepted: 13 April 2014 / Published: 24 April 2014 Abstract: Applications of redox processes range over a number of scientific fields. This review article summarizes the theory behind the calculation of redox potentials in solution for species such as organic compounds, inorganic complexes, actinides, battery materials, and mineral surface-bound-species. Different computational approaches to predict and determine redox potentials of electron transitions are discussed along with their respective pros and cons for the prediction of redox potentials. Subsequently, recommendations are made for certain necessary computational settings required for accurate calculation of redox potentials. This article reviews the importance of computational parameters, such as basis sets, density functional theory (DFT) functionals, and relativistic approaches and the role that physicochemical processes play on the shift of redox potentials, such as hydration or spin orbit coupling, and will aid in finding suitable combinations of approaches for different chemical and geochemical applications. Identifying cost-effective and credible computational approaches is essential to benchmark redox potential calculations against experiments.