Background Image

Research Overview

Research focus

We study lanthanide and actinide materials for nuclear energy and heavy element chemistry. Our multi-scale thermodynamics connects experiments, atomistic modeling, and data science to understand materials stability and transformations. We share thermochemical and solubility data through open-access databases.

Front end

Critical Minerals

Rare-earth mineralization, speciation and separation for resource recovery.

Focus areas

Hydrothermal chemistry · Rare-earth recovery · Molecular complexes

Front end

Nuclear Fuels

Thermochemistry, bonding and degradation of oxide, carbide and nitride fuels.

Focus areas

Fuel thermochemistry · Defect chemistry · Thermal expansion

Qualification

Molten Salts

Mixing, structure and thermophysical properties of salts for nuclear energy.

Focus areas

Calorimetry · Salt mixtures · Molecular simulation

Qualification

Extreme Materials

How heat, pressure and chemical environments transform complex materials.

Focus areas

High-temperature diffraction · Pressure-induced transitions · Complex ceramics

Qualification

Defects & Irradiation

Modeling defects, transport and materials evolution under irradiation.

Focus areas

Defect thermodynamics · Fission products · Cluster dynamics

Back end

f-Element Chemistry

Bonding, speciation and selective separation of actinides and lanthanides.

Focus areas

Molecular complexes · Electronic structure · Separation chemistry

Back end

Waste Forms

Durable ceramics and minerals for immobilizing radioactive elements.

Focus areas

Actinide silicates · Phosphates · Phase stability

Across the cycle

Predictive Thermodynamics

Connect experiments, atomistic modeling and AI to predict materials behavior.

Focus areas

Calorimetry and diffraction · Atomistic simulation · Thermodynamic modeling · AI and machine learning

Laboratory capabilities

Guo Lab laboratory workspace

Calorimetry & thermal analysis

Setaram AlexSYS-1000 calorimeter — Setaram AlexSYS-1000 calorimeter for solution and reaction energetics at 500–1000 °C.

Setaram SetSYS thermal analyzer, front view — Setaram SetSYS thermal analysis system for studying materials during heating and cooling.

Setaram SetSYS thermal analyzer, side view — Setaram SetSYS thermal analysis system for studying materials during heating and cooling.

High pressure

Diamond anvil cell pressure apparatus — Diamond anvil cells (<50 GPa) and hydrothermal cells (<10 GPa, <800 °C) for materials under pressure.

Diamond anvil cell components — Diamond anvil cells (<50 GPa) and hydrothermal cells (<10 GPa, <800 °C) for materials under pressure.

Elastic properties

ACE RUS008 resonant ultrasound instrument — ACE RUS008 resonant ultrasound spectrometer for measuring elastic properties.

Synthesis & characterization

Nabertherm tube furnace — Nabertherm tube furnace (1300 °C, inert atmosphere) and Carbolite furnace (1200 °C) for high-temperature synthesis.

METTLER TOLEDO XPR microbalance — METTLER TOLEDO XPR and MT5 microbalances for microgram-scale weighing.

Bruker S2 PICOFOX X-ray fluorescence spectrometer — Bruker S2 PICOFOX total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for elemental analysis.

ORTEC alpha spectrometers — ORTEC alpha spectrometers for alpha-emitting radionuclides.

Sample handling

Controlled-atmosphere glovebox — Controlled-atmosphere gloveboxes for handling air-sensitive and radiological materials.

Glovebox for radiological sample handling — Controlled-atmosphere gloveboxes for handling air-sensitive and radiological materials.