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

2020

  • 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
  • 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.

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