Xiaodong Zhao

Researcher, Washington State University
Collaborating with PNNL, University of Maryland College Park, Lanzhou University, APS, NSLS-II, the Alexandra Navrotsky Institute for Experimental Thermodynamics and so on.

Research Interests

I study rare earth element (REE) and actinide coordination and transport in high-temperature hydrothermal fluids. My research combines in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), μ-XRD, and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to understand the coupling between microscopic structure and macroscopic thermodynamic behavior. Current projects involve REE sulfate speciation, nuclear waste form thermodynamics, and high-pressure experimental techniques.

Selected Publications

Zhao, X., et al. (2025). Molecular Insights into Yb(III) Speciation in Sulfate-Bearing Hydrothermal Fluids. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.
Zhao, X., et al. (2024). Pressure-Enhanced Bonding Covalency in Coffinite (USiO₄). Submitted to Acta Materialia.
Full list and metrics on Google Scholar.

Contact

📧 Email: xiaodong.zhao@wsu.edu
🧾 ORCID: 0000-0001-6192-2074
💼 GitHub: github.com/xdlzuups

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