  We present a modification to our recently published SAFT-based classical
density functional theory for water. We have recently developed and tested a
functional for the averaged radial distribution function at contact of the
hard-sphere fluid that is dramatically more accurate at interfaces than earlier
approximations. We now incorporate this improved functional into the
association term of our free energy functional for water, improving its
description of hydrogen bonding. We examine the effect of this improvement by
studying two hard solutes: a hard hydrophobic rod and a hard sphere. The
improved functional leads to a moderate change in the density profile and a
large decrease in the number of hydrogen bonds broken in the vicinity of the
solutes.We present a modification to our recently published SAFT-based
classical density functional theory for water. We have recently developed and
tested a functional for the averaged radial distribution function at contact of
the hard-sphere fluid that is dramatically more accurate at interfaces than
earlier approximations. We now incorporate this improved functional into the
association term of our free energy functional for water, improving its
description of hydrogen bonding. We examine the effect of this improvement by
studying two hard solutes: a hard hydrophobic rod and a hard sphere. The
improved functional leads to a moderate change in the density profile and a
large decrease in the number of hydrogen bonds broken in the vicinity of the
solutes.
