1950年6月以“Specific Heat by Mechanical Quadratures”研究論文通過研究生答辯並發表於同年的《中國化學會會志》。1956年,在水分子間氫鍵鍵能一文中利用量子化學方法並考慮到電子云之間的多極矩作用研究氫鍵的靜電相互作用,優於當時國際上流行的點電荷的模型,被《十年來中國的科學(化學卷)》所引用。1980年以後主要從事化學反應的理論研究。對加成反應從理論上提出了取代基可以改變反應物間作用能本質並影響反應機理的新觀點。對異構化反應預言了某些不穩定異構體的存在,後為實驗證實。揭示了自由基反應中負活化能產生的根源。用軌旋耦合作用闡明了自旋禁阻反應的起因。證明了在特定條件下,非斷裂鍵的振動激發也可促進反應。目前側重激發態反應勢能面及相關光化反應的理論研究和大分子間弱相互作用的理論研究。著有《量子化學基礎》等。
1:RZLiu,JGYu,Theoretical Study of the Effect of Subsituents on Elec trophilic Addition to Olefins:Ab Initio MO Approach with Energy Decomposition,IntJQuantum Chem,1983,23:491.
2:SQJin,RZLiu,Quantum Chemical Study of the Electrophilic Addition Reaction of Iodine to Ethylene,IntJQuantum Chem,1984,25:699.
3:RZLiu,Quantum Chemical Studies on Reaction Mechanism and Rea ction Path,App.Quantum Chem.(Reidel),1986,85.
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10:YHuang,RZLiu,Investigation of the Change in Band Structure of a Carbon Nanotube Due to a Distortion Keeping the Initial Translational Symmetry,Chem.PhysLett,1997,268:364.