Research Scientist (Chemist)
Research Scientist (Chemist)

Biography

Quin Miller has been a staff member at PNNL since 2019 and has also worked at PNNL as a post-bachelor’s research associate, intern, visiting researcher, and postdoc prior to becoming a research scientist. He studies geochemically relevant physicochemical interfacial processes with PNNL’s in situ experimental suite, including in situ X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic spectroscopy. He also works on a broader range of projects that include CO2 storage via basalt mineralization, subsurface metamaterial sensing technology research and development, and associated upscaling to planned field deployments.

Miller is always eager to collaborate, especially with regards to projects that may benefit from PNNL’s world-unique in situ X-ray diffraction, capable of probing fluid-solid reactions at subsurface temperatures and pressures.

Related News and Research Highlights

Research Interest

  • Geochemistry
  • Nanoscience
  • Nano-metamaterials
  • Functional material synthesis
  • Interfacial subsurface science
  • Critical energy materials separations and
  • Multimodal in situ X-ray and optical experimental techniques

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • American Chemical Society
  • The Clay Minerals Society
  • American Geophysical Union

Awards and Recognitions

  • Environmental Science: Nano Emerging Investigator (2020) https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EN01382B
  • PNNL Outstanding Postdoc Award (2019)
  • PNNL Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate Outstanding Performance Award (2020)
  • Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program Award (2016)
  • The Society for Organic Petrology Spackman Award (2016)
  • The Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts Unconventional Reservoir Special Interest Group Scholarship (2016)
  • The Clay Minerals Society Robert C. Reynolds Research Award (2016)

Publications

2025

  • Lahiri N., L. Kovarik, S.D. Taylor, J.V. Crum, E.S. Ilton, C.T. Depp, and Q. Miller, et al. 2025. "Complex carbonate phases drive geologic CO2 mineralization." Communications Earth & Environment 6:Art. No. 344. PNNL-SA-194276. doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02273-6
  • Youzi M., J.L. Stapper, S. Zare, H.T. Schaef, M.E. Bowden, K.M. Rosso, and Q.R. Miller, et al. 2025. "Carbon Mineralization Pathways in Interfacial Adsorbed Water Nanofilms." Communications Earth & Environment 6:Art. No. 478. PNNL-SA-205260. doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02436-5

2024

  • Bartels M.F., Q. Miller, R. Cao, N. Lahiri, J.E. Holliman, C.H. Stanfield, and H.T. Schaef. 2024. "Parts-Per-Million Carbonate Mineral Quantification with Thermogravimetric Analysis-Mass Spectrometry." Analytical Chemistry 96, no. 11:4385-4393. PNNL-SA-189663. doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c03936
  • Battu A., Q. Miller, R. Cao, A.T. Owen, and H.T. Schaef. 2024. "3D Quantification of Pore Networks and Anthropogenic Carbon Mineralization in Stacked Basalt Reservoirs." Environmental Science & Technology 58, no. 8:3747-3754. PNNL-SA-181590. doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c06163
  • Cao R., Q. Miller, C.L. Davidson, W. Gallin, S.P. Reidel, Z. Jiao, and F. McLaughlin, et al. 2024. "Gigaton Commercial-Scale Carbon Storage and Mineralization Potential in Stacked Columbia River Basalt Reservoirs." International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 137, no. _:Art No. 104206. PNNL-SA-182639. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104206
  • Li X., E.T. Nienhuis-Marcial, A. Nagurney, Q. Miller, X. Zhang, and H.T. Schaef. 2024. "Resolving nanoscale processes during carbon mineralization using identical location transmission electron microscopy." Environmental Science & Technology Letters 11, no. 2:79-88. PNNL-SA-190625. doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00699
  • Morfin A.M., C.H. Stanfield, M.A. Murchland, M.F. Bartels, A. Nagurney, Q. Miller, and H.T. Schaef. 2024. "Structure-Composition Relationships for Mg-Ni and Mg-Fe Olivine." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 8, no. 9:1713-1724. PNNL-SA-194602. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.4c00044
  • Sassi M., O. Qafoku, M.E. Bowden, C.I. Pearce, D. Latta, Q. Miller, and M.D. Boamah, et al. 2024. "Influence of Time and Ageing Conditions on the Properties of Ferrihydrite." Environmental Science Nano 11, no. 4:1682-1692. PNNL-SA-192693. doi:10.1039/D3EN00828B
  • van Rooyen I., S. Meher, P.K. Thallapally, J. Fernandez dos Santos, C.M. Silva, S. Shin, and T. Wang, et al. 2024. Nuclear Energy Critical Material Waste Minimization Enabled by AM Techniques. PNNL-36049. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/2481591.Nuclear Energy Critical Material Waste Minimization Enabled by AM Techniques
  • van Rooyen I.J., M. Komarasamy, C.M. Silva, T. Ajantiwalay, Q.R. Miller, R. Prabhakaran, and S. Tripathi, et al. 2024. Preliminary Characterization and Evaluation on ShAPE Manufactured 316H and ODS Steels. PNNL-36737. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Preliminary Characterization and Evaluation on ShAPE Manufactured 316H and ODS Steels
  • Wang X., Y. He, L. Liu, D. Song, L. Kovarik, M.E. Bowden, and M.H. Engelhard, et al. 2024. "Uncovering the Size-dependent Thermal Solid Transformation of Akaganéite." Small 20, no. 46:Art. No. 2402717. PNNL-SA-201487. doi:10.1002/smll.202402717
  • Zhou J., M. Chandrapa, S. Tan, S. Wang, C. Wu, H. Nguyen, and C. Wang, et al. 2024. "Healable and Conductive Sulfur Iodide for Solid-State Li-S Batteries." Nature 627, no. 8003:301-305. PNNL-SA-194462. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07101-z

2023

  • Cao R., K.A. Muller, Q. Miller, M.D. White, D.H. Bacon, and H.T. Schaef. 2023. "Reactive Transport Modeling of Anthropogenic Carbon Mineralization in Stacked Columbia River Basalt Reservoirs." In Proceedings of the SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, (URTC 2023), June 13-15, 2023, Denver, CO, Paper No. URTEC-3860189-MS. Richardson, Texas:Society of Petroleum Engineers. PNNL-SA-184675. doi:10.15530/urtec-2023-3860189
  • Lahiri N., Q. Miller, R. Cao, C. Depp, and H.T. Schaef. 2023. "Facile Metal Release from Pore-lining Phases Enables Unique Carbonate Zonation in a Basalt Carbon Mineralization Demonstration." Environmental Science & Technology 57, no. 32:11843-11851. PNNL-SA-182643. doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c02075
  • Loughran R.P., T. Hurley, A. Gladysiak, A. Chidambaram, K. Khivantsev, E.D. Walter, and T.R. Graham, et al. 2023. "CO2 capture from wet flue gas using a water-stable and cost-effective metal-organic framework." Cell Reports Physical Science 4, no. 7:Art. No. 101470. PNNL-SA-171951. doi:10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101470

2022

  • Depp C.T., Q. Miller, J. Crum, J.A. Horner, and H.T. Schaef. 2022. "Pore-scale Microenvironments Control Anthropogenic Carbon Mineralization Outcomes in Basalt." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 6, no. 12:836-2847. PNNL-SA-173493. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.2c00165
  • Holliman J.E., H.T. Schaef, B.P. McGrail, and Q. Miller. 2022. "Review of foundational concepts and emerging directions in metamaterial research: Design, phenomena, and applications." Materials Advances 3, no. 23:8390-8406. PNNL-SA-172432. doi:10.1039/d2ma00497f
  • Miller Q., and H.T. Schaef. 2022. "Activation Energy of Magnesite (MgCO3) Precipitation: Recent Insights from Olivine Carbonation Studies." Environmental Science: Advances 1, no. 4:426-429. PNNL-SA-174595. doi:10.1039/D2VA00066K
  • Nune S.K., Q. Miller, H.T. Schaef, T. Jian, M. Song, D. Li, and V. Shutthanandan, et al. 2022. "Transport of Polymer-Coated Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles in Porous Media." Scientific Reports 12. PNNL-SA-158528. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-18264-y
  • Polites E.G., H.T. Schaef, J.A. Horner, A.T. Owen, J.E. Holliman, B.P. McGrail, and Q. Miller. 2022. "Exotic Carbonate Mineralization Recovered from a Deep Basalt Carbon Storage Demonstration." Environmental Science & Technology 56, no. 20:14713-14722. PNNL-SA-172801. doi:10.1021/acs.est.2c03269
  • Qomi M., Q. Miller, S. Zare, H.T. Schaef, J. Kaszuba, and K.M. Rosso. 2022. "Molecular-Scale Mechanisms of CO2 Mineralization in Nanoscale Interfacial Water Films." Nature Reviews Chemistry 6, no. 9:598-613. PNNL-SA-169144. doi:10.1038/s41570-022-00418-1
  • Strange L.E., V. Shutthanandan, M. Song, M.E. Bowden, Q. Miller, R. Prabhakaran, and R.W. Shimskey, et al. 2022. "Multimodal Analysis and Characterization of the Boehmite Layer formed on AA6061 Before and After Alkaline Etching." Journal of Materials Research and Technology 21. PNNL-SA-174631. doi:10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.09.125
  • Zare S., S. Uddin, A. Funk, Q. Miller, and M. Qomi. 2022. "Nanoconfinement Matters in Humidified CO2 Interaction with Metal Silicates." Environmental Science: Nano 9, no. 10:3766-3779. PNNL-SA-175649. doi:10.1039/d2en00148a

2021

  • Chai Y., Q. Miller, H.T. Schaef, D. Barpaga, R. Bakhshoodeh, M. Bodor, and T. Van Gerven, et al. 2021. "Pressurized in situ x-ray diffraction insights into super/subcritical carbonation reaction pathways of steelmaking slags and constituent silicate minerals." Journal of Supercritical Fluids 171. PNNL-SA-154471. doi:10.1016/j.supflu.2021.105191
  • Herz-Thyhsen R., Q. Miller, G. Rother, J. Kaszuba, T. Ashley, and K.C. Littrell. 2021. "Nanoscale Interfacial Smoothing and Dissolution during Unconventional Reservoir Stimulation Implications for Hydrocarbon Mobilization and Transport." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 13, no. 13:15811-15819. PNNL-SA-158803. doi:10.1021/acsami.0c22524
  • Loring J.S., O. Qafoku, C.J. Thompson, A.S. Mcneill, M. Vasiliu, D.A. Dixon, and Q. Miller, et al. 2021. "Synergistic Coupling of CO2 and H2O during Expansion of Clays in Supercritical CO2-CH4 Fluid Mixtures." Environmental Science & Technology 55, no. 16:11192-11203. PNNL-SA-143713. doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c00275

2020

  • Mergelsberg S.T., J.J. De Yoreo, Q. Miller, F.M. Michel, R. Ulrich, P.M. Dove, and P.M. Dove. 2020. "Metastable solubility and local structure of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC)." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 289. PNNL-SA-160781. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2020.06.030
  • Miller, Q.R.S., J.P. Kaszuba, H.T. Schaef, S.N. Kerisit, M.E. Bowden, B.P. McGrail, K.M. Rosso. “Emerging Investigator Series: Ion Diffusivities in Nanoconfined Interfacial Water Films Contribute to Mineral Carbonation Thresholds”. Environmental Science: Nano 7, no. 4:1068-1081. PNNL-SA-149770.doi:10.1039/C9EN01382B
  • Rod K.A., C.A. Fernandez, P.K. Koech, G.L. Dai, M. Correa, N.J. Huerta, and S.D. Burton, et al. 2020. "Self-Repairing Polymer-Modified Cements for High Temperature Geothermal and Fossil Energy Applications." Geothermics 85. PNNL-SA 140314. doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2019.101790
  • Sinnwell, M.S., Q.R.S. Miller, L. Liu, J. Tao, M.E. Bowden, L. Kovarik, D. Barpaga, Y. Han, R.K. Motkuri, M.L. Sushko, H.T. Schaef, P.K. Thallapally. “Kinetics and Mechanisms of ZnO to ZIF-8 Transformations in Supercritical CO2 Revealed by in situ X-Ray Diffraction.” ChemSusChem 13, 2602. PNNL-SA-149718.doi:10.1002/cssc.202000434
  • Sinnwell M.A., Q. Miller, L. Palys, D. Barpaga, L. Liu, M.E. Bowden, and Y. Han, et al. 2020. "Molecular Intermediate in the Directed Formation of a Zeolitic Metal-Organic Framework." Journal of the American Chemical Society 142, no. 41:17598-17606. PNNL-SA-154537. doi:10.1021/jacs.0c07862
  • Koech P.K., C.A. Fernandez, K.A. Rod, G.L. Dai, N.J. Huerta, S.D. Burton, and Q. Miller, et al. 2020. "Advanced Self-Healing Polymer-Cement Composites for Geothermal Wellbore Applications up to 300 °C." In Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2020 Reykjavik, Iceland. PNNL-SA-144522.
  • White S.K., F.A. Spane, H.T. Schaef, Q. Miller, M.D. White, J.A. Horner, and B.P. McGrail. 2020. "Quantification of CO2 Mineralization at the Wallula Basalt Pilot Project." Environmental Science & Technology 54, no. 22:14609-14616. PNNL-SA-151577. doi:10.1021/acs.est.0c05142

2019

  • Bowers G.M., H.T. Schaef, Q. Miller, E.D. Walter, S.D. Burton, D.W. Hoyt, and J.A. Horner, et al. 2019. "13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Methane and Carbon Dioxide in a Natural Shale." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 3, no. 3:324-328. PNNL-SA-140683. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.8b00214
  • Bowers G.M., J.S. Loring, H.T. Schaef, S.S. Cunniff, E.D. Walter, S.D. Burton, and R.K. Larsen, et al. 2019. "Chemical Trapping of CO2 by Clay Minerals at Reservoir Conditions: Two Mechanisms Observed by In Situ High Pressure and Temperature Experiments." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 3, no. 6:1034-1046. PNNL-SA-140918. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.9b00038
  • Han Y., M.A. Sinnwell, S.J. Teat, M.L. Sushko, M.E. Bowden, Q. Miller, and H.T. Schaef, et al. 2019. "Desulfurization Efficiency Preserved in a Heterometallic MOF: Synthesis and Thermodynamically Controlled Phase Transition." Advanced Science 6, no. 7:1802056. PNNL-SA-136448. doi:10.1002/advs.201802056
  • Miller Q., D.A. Dixon, S.D. Burton, E.D. Walter, D.W. Hoyt, A.S. McNeill, and J. Moon, et al. 2019. "Surface-Catalyzed Oxygen Exchange during Mineral Carbonation in Nanoscale Water Films." Journal of Physical Chemistry C 123, no. 20:12871-12885. PNNL-SA-141756. doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b02215
  • Miller Q., H.T. Schaef, J. Kaszuba, G. Gadikota, B.P. McGrail, and K.M. Rosso. 2019. "Quantitative Review of Olivine Carbonation Kinetics: Reactivity Trends, Mechanistic Insights, and Research Frontiers." Environmental Science & Technology Letters 6, no. 8:431-442. PNNL-SA-143712. doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.9b00301
  • Miller Q., H.T. Schaef, S.K. Nune, K. Jung, J.A. Burghardt, P.F. Martin, and M.S. Prowant, et al. 2019. "Geophysical Monitoring with Seismic Metamaterial Contrast Agents." In Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC 2019), July 22-24, 2019, Denver, CO, Paper No 1123. Richardson, Texas:Society of Petroleum Engineers. PNNL-SA-148890. doi:10.15530/urtec-2019-1123
  • Miller Q., J. Kaszuba, H.T. Schaef, M.E. Bowden, B.P. McGrail, and K.M. Rosso. 2019. "Anomalously low activation energy of nanoconfined MgCO3 precipitation." Chemical Communications 55, no. 48:6835-6837. PNNL-SA-141004. doi:10.1039/c9cc01337g

2018

  • Loring J.S., Q. Miller, C.J. Thompson, and H.T. Schaef. 2018. "Experimental studies of reactivity and transformations of rocks and minerals in water-bearing supercritical CO2." In Science of Carbon Storage in Deep Saline Formations: Process Coupling Across Time and Spatial Scales, edited by P. Newell and A.G. Ilgen. 63-88. Cambridge, Massachusetts:Elsevier. PNNL-SA-129113. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-812752-0.00004-6
  • Miller Q., E.S. Ilton, O. Qafoku, D.A. Dixon, M. Vasiliu, C.J. Thompson, and H.T. Schaef, et al. 2018. "Water Structure Controls Carbonic Acid Formation in Adsorbed Water Films." Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 9, no. 17:4988-4994. PNNL-SA-136469. doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b02162
  • Miller Q., S.K. Nune, H.T. Schaef, K. Jung, K.M. Denslow, M.S. Prowant, and P.F. Martin, et al. 2018. "Microporous and Flexible Framework Acoustic Metamaterials for Sound Attenuation and Contrast Agent Applications." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 10, no. 51:44226-44230. PNNL-SA-139317. doi:10.1021/acsami.8b19249
  • Miller Q., H.T. Schaef, J. Kaszuba, L. Qiu, M.E. Bowden, B.P. McGrail, and Q.R. Miller. 2018. "Tunable manipulation of mineral carbonation kinetics in nanoscale water films via citrate additives." Environmental Science & Technology 52, no. 12:7138-7148. PNNL-SA-131986. doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b00438

2015

  • Schaef H.T., J.S. Loring, V.A. Glezakou, Q.R. Miller, J. Chen, A.T. Owen, and M. Lee, et al. 2015. "Competitive Sorption of CO2 and H2O in 2:1 Layer Phyllosilicates." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 161, 248-257. PNNL-SA-101900. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2015.03.027
  • Miller Q.R., J. Kaszuba, H.T. Schaef, M.E. Bowden, and B.P. McGrail. 2015. "Impacts of Organic Ligands on Forsterite Reactivity in Supercritical CO2 Fluids." Environmental Science & Technology 49, no. 7:4724-4734. PNNL-SA-109524. doi:10.1021/es506065d

2014

  • Loring J.S., H.T. Schaef, C.J. Thompson, R.V. Turcu, Q.R. Miller, J. Chen, and J.Z. Hu, et al. 2013. "Clay hydration/dehydration in dry to water-saturated supercritical CO2: Implications for caprock integrity." Energy Procedia 37. PNNL-SA-91508. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2013.06.463

2013

  • Miller Q., C.J. Thompson, J.S. Loring, C.F. Windisch, M.E. Bowden, D.W. Hoyt, and J.Z. Hu, et al. 2013. "Insights into Silicate Carbonation Processes in Water-Bearing Supercritical CO2 Fluids." International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 15. PNNL-SA-89916. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2013.02.005
  • Schaef H.T., Q. Miller, C.J. Thompson, J.S. Loring, M.E. Bowden, B.W. Arey, and B.P. McGrail, et al. 2013. "Silicate Carbonation in Supercritical CO2 Containing Dissolved H2O: An in situ High Pressure X-Ray Diffraction Study." Energy Procedia 37. PNNL-SA-85671. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2013.06.514

2012

  • Loring J.S., H.T. Schaef, R.V. Turcu, C.J. Thompson, Q. Miller, P.F. Martin, and J.Z. Hu, et al. 2012. "In Situ Molecular Spectroscopic Evidence for CO2 Intercalation into Montmorillonite in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide." Langmuir 28, no. 18:7125-7128. PNNL-SA-86500. doi:10.1021/la301136w