Materials Scientist
Materials Scientist

Biography

Brian Riley, PhD, joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2003 and is a senior materials scientist. Riley’s work focuses on the development of waste forms, such as glass and glass-ceramics, for a variety of nuclear waste streams, such as Department of Energy (DOE) legacy wastes and used nuclear fuel reprocessing wastes; off-gas management, such as iodine and noble gases; and materials exploration, such as non-oxide materials. His primary professional focus is on the development of materials for a variety of applications.

Research Interest

  • Non-oxide materials synthesis and characterization (e.g., chalcogenides, zinc blende, chalcopyrites)
  • Glass waste form development (e.g., tellurite, phosphate, lanthanide borosilicate, high-level waste)
  • Metal-exchanged aerogel and xerogel development for gaseous radionuclide capture (e.g., non-oxide chalcogels, metal-exchanged aluminosilicates)
  • Metal-exchanged zeolites for gaseous radionuclide capture
  • Molten salt reactor waste and effluent management
  • Liquidus temperature measurements of waste and simulated nuclear waste glasses
  • Glass-ceramic waste form development (e.g., mixed MoO3 and lanthanide waste streams)

Disciplines and Skills

  • Applied Materials Science and Engineering
  • Chalcogenides
  • Crystal Growth
  • Materials Characterization
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Non-Oxide Materials
  • Powder X-ray Diffraction
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy
  • Wasteform Development
  • Zinc-Blende Materials

Education

  • PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, Washington State University
  • BS, Chemistry, Eastern Washington University
  • BS, Biology, Eastern Washington University

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • American Chemical Society, Member
  • American Nuclear Society, Member

Awards and Recognitions

  • PNNL Of the Year (OTY) Award for Nuclear Sciences Division Mentor of the Year, 2020
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of exception contributions to The Radiological Materials Group Leadership
  • PNNL OTY Award for Energy and Environment Directorate (EED) Nuclear Sciences Division Publication of the Year, 2019
  • PNNL OTY Award for EED Publication of the Year, 2016
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of outstanding contributions and collaboration with the National Security Directorate, 2016
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of five lead author publications in FY 2013, 2013
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition for outstanding efforts for infrared glass ceramics, 2013
  • Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for licensing the IncubATRTMTM technology to Simplex Scientific, 2011
  • R&D 100 Award for IncubATRTMTM, The Live Cell Monitor, 2011
  • PNNL Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of support for the cybersecurity roll-out in FY 2009, 2009
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of contributions to the ASGARD project’s success, 2008
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of excellent work ethic and support for the EM-21 glass matrix test work, 2008
  • R&D 100 Award for Multi-Scale Materials Integrated Processing Method, 2008
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of contribution to education made during the 2008 Bring Your Kids To Work Day, 2008
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in support of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant's Anti-Foam testing, 2008
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of the discovery of a new metastable crystalline phase in the Cd-Ge-As system, which ended up on the cover of the February 2008 Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2007
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of contribution and dedication to the completion of the Large-Scale Test Evaluation (38D Test) for the AMEC Bulk Vitrification Process, 2007
  • First Place Award at the American Ceramics Society Materials Science & Technology (MS&T) Ceramographic Competition for New Cd-Ge-As Phase Found, 2007
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in appreciation for support to the AMEC Earth and Environmental’s Bulk Vitrification Project, 2007
  • Nominated for a PNNL Stretch Assignment Award at the PS&E FY 2004 Awards Ceremony, 2004
  • Nominated for a PNNL Mentoring Award at the PS&E FY 2004 Awards Ceremony, 2004
  • PNNL Shining Star Award for Going Above and Beyond, 2004
  • Nuclear and Environmental Technology Division Best Paper Award at the American Ceramics Society MS&T 2000 Conference, 2001
  • PNNL Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of support to the Americium/Curium Support Project, 1999

Patents

Publications

2024

  • Chong S., and B.J. Riley. 2024. "Compositional effects on the chemical durabilities of aluminophosphate glasses: A review." Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids: X 21. PNNL-SA-191340. doi:10.1016/j.nocx.2023.100205
  • Du J., V. Ishwar Hegde, J.E. Saal, B.J. Riley, and J.D. Vienna. 2024. "AI/ML-assisted Design of Phosphate Glass and Ceramic Nuclear Waste Forms." Transactions of the American Nuclear Society 130, no. 1:144-147. PNNL-SA-195362.
  • Evarts J.S., S. Chong, J.M. Oshiro, B.J. Riley, R.M. Asmussen, and J.S. McCloy. 2024. "Ceramic-metal (cermet) composites: A review of key properties and synthesis methods focused on nuclear waste immobilization." Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 63, no. 14:6003-6023. PNNL-SA-191155. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.3c04450
  • Kalahe J., T.S. Mahadevan, X. Lu, J.D. Vienna, B.J. Riley, J. Du, and J. Du. 2024. "Insights on the structure and properties of sodium iron phosphate glasses from molecular dynamics simulations." Journal of Nuclear Materials 594, no. _:Art. No. 155004. PNNL-SA-190406. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.155004
  • Lere-Adams A.J., M.C. Wilkins, D.L. Bollinger, S. Stariha, R. Farzana, P. Dayal, and D. Gregg, et al. 2024. "Glass-bonded ceramic waste forms for immobilization of radioiodine from caustic scrubber wastes." Journal of Nuclear Materials 591. PNNL-SA-192252. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.154938
  • Riley B.J. 2024. "A multifunctional technology platform for sorbent construction using polyacrylonitrile scaffolds." Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 63, no. 19:8647-8662. PNNL-SA-193801. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.4c00100
  • Riley B.J., S. Chong, and N.L. Canfield. 2024. "Synthesis of and Iodine capture with MSx (Ag2S, Bi2S3, Cu2S)-polyacrylonitrile composites." New Journal of Chemistry 48, no. 8:3352-3356. PNNL-SA-193562. doi:10.1039/D3NJ05961H
  • Robinson A.J., H.M. Johnson, S. Chong, B.J. Riley, M.K. Murphy, P.K. Okabe, and P.K. Thallapally. 2024. "Noble Gas Management with Radiation-Tolerant MOF for Molten Salt Reactors." Cell Reports Physical Science 5, no. 2:Art. No. 101829. PNNL-SA-191719. doi:10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.101829

2023

  • Asmussen R.M., A.M. Westesen, E. Cordova, A. Fujii Yamagata, P.P. Schonewill, A.C. Moore, and A. Bourchy, et al. 2023. "Iodine Removal from Carbonate-Containing Alkaline Liquids using Strong Base Resins, Hybrid Resins, and Silver Precipitation." Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 62, no. 7:3271-3281. PNNL-SA-178096. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.2c03527
  • Crum J.V., J.D. Vienna, B.J. Riley, J.A. Silverstein, R.M. Kissinger, J.J. Neeway, and J.L. George, et al. 2023. "Formulation and Testing of a High-Tin Borosilicate Nuclear Waste Glass for In-Can Melting." Journal of Nuclear Materials 585. PNNL-SA-182284. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2023.154643
  • Riley B.J., N.L. Canfield, M. Peterson, J.L. George, S. Chong, and J.V. Crum. 2023. Crystalline versus Glassy Nature of Iron Phosphate Waste Forms Subjected to Different Slow Cooling Curves. PNNL-34917. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Crystalline versus Glassy Nature of Iron Phosphate Waste Forms Subjected to Different Slow Cooling Curves
  • Riley B.J., S. Chong, M. Zhao, and J. Lian. 2023. "Densification and immobilization of AgI-containing iodine waste forms using spark plasma sintering." Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 62, no. 22:8779-8792. PNNL-SA-183003. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.3c00892
  • Yadav A., S. Chong, B.J. Riley, J.S. McCloy, and A. Goel. 2023. "Iodine capture by Ag-loaded solid sorbents followed by Ag recycling and iodine immobilization: An end-to-end process." Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 62, no. 8:3635-3646. PNNL-SA-179871. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.2c04357

2022

  • Asmussen R.M., J. Turner, S. Chong, and B.J. Riley. 2022. "Review of recent developments in iodine wasteform production." Frontiers in Chemistry 10. PNNL-SA-176905. doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.1043653
  • Baskaran K., M. Ali, B.J. Riley, J. Bates, I. Zharov, and K. Carlson. 2022. "Membrane synthesis via in-situ pore formation in silica gels through dynamic miscibility with soybean oil." Colloids and Surfaces. A, Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 636. PNNL-SA-165506. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.128183
  • Baskaran K., M. Ali, K.L. Gingrich, D.L. Porter, S. Chong, B.J. Riley, and C.W. Peak, et al. 2022. "Sol-gel derived silica: A review of polymer-tailored properties for energy and environmental applications." Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 336. PNNL-SA-166395. doi:10.1016/j.micromeso.2022.111874
  • Chong S., and B.J. Riley. 2022. "Thermal conversion in air of rare-earth fluorides to rare-earth oxyfluorides and rare-earth oxides." Journal of Nuclear Materials 561. PNNL-SA-167547. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153538
  • Chong S., B.J. Riley, and Z.J. Nelson. 2022. "Crystalline compounds for remediation of rare-earth fission products: A review." Journal of Rare Earths 40, no. 3:365-380. PNNL-SA-156271. doi:10.1016/j.jre.2021.01.016
  • Chong S., B.J. Riley, J. Marcial, C.E. Lonergan, and D.A. Cutforth. 2022. "Synthesis of dysprosium oxychloride (DyOCl)." Journal of Chemical Crystallography 52, no. 2:185-193. PNNL-SA-158753. doi:10.1007/s10870-021-00904-2
  • Chong S., B.J. Riley, R.M. Asmussen, A. Fujii Yamagata, J. Marcial, S. Lee, and C. Burns. 2022. "Iodine capture with metal-functionalized polyacrylonitrile composite beads containing Ag0, Bi0, Cu0, or Sn0 particles." ACS Applied Polymer Materials 4, no. 12:9040-9051. PNNL-SA-174578. doi:10.1021/acsapm.2c01407
  • Kruska K., Z. Zhai, B.J. Riley, M.J. Olszta, and D.K. Schreiber. 2022. "Effect of Applied Stress on the Selective Oxidation of Alloy 600 Exposed to PWR Primary Water and Rhines Pack Environments." In Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, July 17-21, 2022, Snowmass, CO, ED22-17328-SG. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:Association for Materials Protection and Performance. PNNL-SA-174340.
  • Reiser J., A.R. Lawter, N.M. Avalos, J.F. Bonnett, B.J. Riley, S. Chong, and N.L. Canfield, et al. 2022. "Review and Experimental Comparison of the Durability of Iodine Waste Forms in Semi-Dynamic Leach Testing." Chemical Engineering Journal Advances 11. PNNL-SA-165785. doi:10.1016/j.ceja.2022.100300
  • Riley B.J., and K. Carlson. 2022. "Radioiodine Sorbent Selection Criteria." Frontiers in Chemistry 10. PNNL-SA-174194. doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.969303
  • Riley B.J., and S. Chong. 2022. "Dehalogenation Reactions Between Halide Salts and Phosphate Compounds." Frontiers in Chemistry 10. PNNL-SA-173546. doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.976781
  • Riley B.J., and S. Chong. 2022. "Effects of composition and canister centerline cooling on microstructure, phase distribution, and chemical durability of dehalogenated iron phosphate waste forms." Journal of Non-crystalline Solids 579. PNNL-SA-167004. doi:10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2021.121319
  • Strzelecki A., Y. Ren, S. Chong, B.J. Riley, H. Xu, J.S. McCloy, and X. Guo. 2022. "Structure and Thermodynamics of Calcium Rare Earth Silicate Oxyapatites, Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2 (RE = Pr, Tb, Ho, Tm)." Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 49, no. 5:Art. No. 13. PNNL-SA-167132. doi:10.1007/s00269-022-01187-5
  • Wang G., D. Kim, M.J. Olszta, M.E. Bowden, D.K. Schreiber, S.A. Saslow, and W. Um, et al. 2022. "Metallic Technetium Sequestration in Nickel Core/Shell Microstructure during Fe(OH)2 Transformation with Ni doping." Journal of Hazardous Materials 425. PNNL-SA-146435. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127779
  • Yang K., Y. Wang, J. Shen, S.M. Scott, B.J. Riley, J.D. Vienna, and J. Lian. 2022. "Cs3Bi2I9-hydroxyapatite composite waste forms for cesium and iodine immobilization." Journal of Advanced Ceramics 11, no. 4:712-728. PNNL-SA-166403. doi:10.1007/s40145-021-0565-z

2021

  • Baskaran, K., M. Ali, B.J. Riley, J.S. Bates, I. Zharov, K. Carlson, “Xerogel membrane synthesis via in-situ pore formation in silica gels through dynamic immiscibility with vegetable oil,” Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 636, 128183 (Nov 2021); doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.128183.
  • Riley, B.J., S. Chong, C.L. Beck, “Iodine vapor reactions with pure metal wires at temperatures of 100°C to 139°C in air,” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 60(47), 17162-17173 (Nov 2021); doi: 10.1021/acs.iecr.1c03902.
  • Kruska, K., W. Jiang, X. Wang, L. Shao, B.J. Riley, R. Devanathan, “Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Atom-probe Tomography Data Quantifying Component-Ratios of Multicomponent Nano-Precipitates in Ion-Irradiated Ceria,” Data in Brief 39, 107460 (Dec 2021); doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107460.
  • Andrews, H.B., J. McFarlane, A.S. Chapel, N.D. Bull Ezell, D.E. Holcomb, D. de Wet, M.S. Greenwood, K.G. Myhre, S.A. Bryan, A. Lines, B.J. Riley, H.M. Felmy, P.W. Humrickhouse, “Review of molten salt reactor off-gas management considerations,” Nuclear Engineering and Design 385, 111529 (Dec 2021); doi: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2021.111529.
  • Riley, B.J., S. Chong, C.E. Lonergan, “Dechlorination apparatus for treating chloride salt wastes: System evaluation and scale-up,” ACS Omega 6(47), 32239-32252 (Nov 2021); doi: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05065.
  • Chong, S., B.J. Riley, E.T. Nienhuis, D. Lee, J.S. McCloy, “Syntheses and crystal structures of rare-earth oxyapatites Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2 (RE = Pr, Tb, Ho, Tm),” Journal of Chemical Crystallography 51, 293-300 (Aug 2021); doi: 10.1007/s10870-020-00855-0.
  • Beck, C.L., B.J. Riley, N.P. Smith, S.B. Clark, “Adsorption of iodine on metal coupons in humid and dry environments,” Journal of Nuclear Materials 556, 153204 (April 2021); doi: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153204.
  • Riley, B.J., S. Chong, R.M. Asmussen, A. Bourchy, M.H. Engelhard, “Polyacrylonitrile composites of Ag-Al-Si-O aerogels and xerogels as iodine and iodide sorbents,” ACS Applied Polymer Materials 3(7), 3344-3353 (Jun 2021); doi: 10.1021/acsapm.1c00237.
  • Yang, K., W. Zhu, B.J. Riley, J.D. Vienna, J. Lian, “Perovskite-derived Cs2SnCl6-silica composites as advanced waste forms for chloride salt waste streams,” Environmental Science and Technology 55(11), 7605-7614 (May 2021); doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07724.
  • Chong, S., B.J. Riley, W. Kuang, M.J. Olszta, “Iodine capture with mechanically robust heat-treated Ag-Al-Si-O xerogel sorbents,” ACS Omega 6(17), 11628-11638 (2021); doi: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00852.
  • Kissinger, R.M., J.V. Crum, B.J. Riley, “Single-component-at-a-time variation study for glass-ceramic waste forms,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 104(7), 3738-3749 (2021); doi: 10.1111/jace.17746.
  • Wang, G., M.E. Bowden, S.A. Saslow, B.J. Riley, D.-S. Kim, W.C. Eaton, A.A. Kruger, “Micrometer-sized magnetite synthesis using Fe(OH)2(s) as a precursor for technetium sequestration from liquid nuclear waste streams,” Journal of Nuclear Materials 552, 152964 (2021); doi: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.152964.
  • Beck, C.L., B.J. Riley, S. Chong, N. Smithy, D.R. Seiner, B.N. Seiner, M.H. Engelhard, S.B. Clark, “Molecular iodine interactions with Fe, Ni, Cr, and stainless-steel alloys,” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 60(6), 2447-2454 (2021); doi: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c04590.
  • Riley, B.J., J.A. Peterson, S. Chong, J.D. Vienna, “Influence of ion site occupancies on the unit cell parameters, specific volumes, and densities of M8(AlSiO4)6X2 sodalites where M = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Ag and X = Cl, Br, and I,” Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 48, 3 (2021); doi: 10.1007/s00269-020-01124-4.
  • Beck, C.L., B.J. Riley, S. Chong, A.J. Karkamkar, D.R. Seiner, S.B. Clark, “Molecular iodine interactions with metal substrates: Towards the understanding of iodine interactions in the environment following a nuclear accident,” Journal of Nuclear Materials 546, 152771 (2021); doi: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152771.
  • Kruska, K., W. Jiang, X. Wang, L. Shao, B.J. Riley, R. Devanathan, “Formation of multicomponent alloy particles in doped ceria under I2+ ion irradiation and thermal annealing,” Journal of Nuclear Materials 545, 152638 (2021); doi: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152638.
  • Gardner, L., M. Wasnik, B.J. Riley, M. Simpson, K. Carlson, “Effect of reduced dehalogenation on the performance of Y zeolite-based sintered waste forms” Journal of Nuclear Materials 545, 152753 (2021); doi: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152753.

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

  • Golovchak, R., O. Shpotyuk, J. McCloy, B.J. Riley, C. Windisch, S. K. Sundaram, A. Kovalskiy, H. Jain, “Structural model of homogenous As-S glasses by combined Raman and XPS techniques,” Philosophical Magazine 90(34), 4489-4501 (2010).
  • McCloy, J.S., B.J. Riley, S.K. Sundaram, H. Qiao, J.V. Crum, B.R. Johnson. “Structure-optical properties correlations of arsenic sulfide glasses in visible, infrared, and sub-millimeter regions,” Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 356(25-27), 1288-1293 (2010).
  • McCloy, J.S., B.J. Riley, B.R. Johnson, M.J. Schweiger, H. Qiao. “The predictive power of electronic polarizability for tailoring the refractivity of high‐index glasses: Optical basicity versus the single oscillator model,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 93(6), 1650-1662 (2010).
  • Schweiger, M.J., P. Hrma, C.J. Humrickhouse, J. Marcial, B.J. Riley, N.E. TeGrotenhuis. “Cluster formation of silica particles in glass batches during melting,” Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 356(25-27), 1359-1367 (2010).

2009

  • Crum, J.V., B.J. Riley, J.D. Vienna. “Binary phase diagram of the Mn2O3-Fe2O3 system,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 92(10), 2378-2384 (2009).
  • Johnson, B.R., B.J. Riley, S.K. Sundaram, J.V. Crum, C.H. Henager Jr., Y. Zhang, V. Shutthanandan, C.E. Seifert, R.M. Van Ginhoven, C.E. Chamberlin (PNNL), A.A. Rockett, D.N. Hebert, A.R. Aquino. “Synthesis and characterization of bulk vitreous cadmium germanium diarsenide,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society 92(6), 1236-1243 (2009).

2008

  • Henager Jr., C.H., D.J. Edwards, A.L. Schemer-Kohrn, S.K. Sundaram, B.J. Riley, M. Bliss. “Electron backscatter diffraction of a Ge growth tip from a vertical gradient freeze furnace,” Journal of Crystal Growth, 311, 10-14 (2008).
  • Riley, B.J., S.K. Sundaram, B.R. Johnson, L.V. Saraf. “Differential etching of chalcogenides for infrared photonic waveguide structures,” Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 354(10-11), 813-816 (2008), doi: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2007.08.061.

2007

  • Dutta, D., S.K. Sundaram, J.G. Teeguarden, B.J. Riley, L.S. Fifield, J.M. Jacobs, S.R. Addleman, G.A. Kaysen, B.M. Moudgil, T.J. Weber. “An important role for adsorbed proteins in directing nanomaterial disposition and toxicity,” Toxicological Sciences, 100(1), 303-315 (2007), doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfm217.

2006

2005

 

Selected Publications

2017