Pius Adelani, Ph.D.

Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, 2011
M.S., University of Ibadan (Nigeria), 2003
B.S., University of Ibadan (Nigeria), 2000

Pius Adelani, Ph.D., received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He obtained his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Notre Dame under the direction of Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt. An innovative contribution of his graduate work was the development of a facile and high yield route to a uranium diphosphonate with a nanotubular structure. This compound represents the first highly stable functional uranyl nanotubule with exceptional ion-exchange properties toward monovalent cations.

After graduation, Adelani joined Peter Burns’ group as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Notre Dame, where he investigated uranyl peroxide and uranyl arsonate nanocages as part of the chemical quest for materials for use in advanced nuclear energy systems. He continued his research in Jeffrey Rinehart’s lab at the University of California in San Diego to work on the air-free synthesis and magnetic studies of FePt nanoparticles.

Prior to joining the St. Mary’s community as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in August 2016, Adelani was an Assistant Lecturer with the Department of Industrial Chemistry at Crawford University in Nigeria from 2005 to 2007. His current research interests remain in the areas of the structural elucidation, physico-chemical properties, and structure-property relationships in coordination polymers and nanomaterials. His long-term career goals are to (1) develop undergraduate curriculum in materials, solid state, environmental and inorganic chemistry alongside with (2) establishing a research program that would foster a hands-on learning environment where students will be trained in a variety of synthetic methods, structural analysis using X-ray diffractions, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, magnetic measurements, and spectroscopic characterization of materials.

* Denotes honors thesis completed with undergraduate students.

*Kenya V. Medina, Pius O. Adelani (2022). “Synthesis of Phosphonate-Based Diimide Ligands”. St. Mary’s University Honors Theses and Projects. 12. https://commons.stmarytx.edu/honorstheses/12 

*Juan Pinedo (2021). “Synthesis and Characterization of Pyridine-Based Diimide Ligands and Metal Phosphonate Coordination Polymers”. St. Mary’s University Honors Theses and Projects. 5. https://commons.stmarytx.edu/honorstheses/5 

Pius O. Adelani,  Josemaria S. Soriano, Bryan E. Galeas, Ginger E. Sigmon, Jennifer E. S. Szymanowski, Peter C. Burns, Hybrid Uranyl–Phosphonate Coordination Nanocage. Inorganic Chemistry 2019, 58(19), 12662-12668.

Pius O. Adelani, Peter C. Burns, Ginger E. Sigmon, Jennifer E. S. Szymanowski. High Nuclearity Uranyl Cages Using Rigid Aryl Phosphonate Ligands. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2019, 5052-5058. (Recognized with Cover Art Feature and Cover Profile)

Josemaria S. Soriano, Bryan E. Galeas, Paul Garrett, Ryan A. Flores, Juan L. Pinedo, Tsuyoshi A. Kohlgruber, Daniel Felton, Pius O. Adelani. In situ decarbonylation of N, N-dimethylformamide to form dimethylammonium cations in the hybrid framework compound {[(CH₃)₂NH₂]₂[Zn{O₃PC₆H₂(OH)₂PO₃}]}_n. Acta Crystallographica Section E: Crystallographic Communications 2019, 75(10), 1540-1543.

Pius O. Adelani, Aaron N Duke, Benjamin H Zhou, & Jeffrey D. Rinehart. Role of Magnetic Concentration in Modulating The Magnetic Properties of Ultra-Small FePt Nanoparticles. Inorganica Chimica Acta 2017, 460, 114-118.

Jie Ling, Franklin Hobbs, Steven Prendergast, Pius O. Adelani, Jean-Marie Babo, Jie Qiu, Zhehui Weng & Peter C. Burns. Hybrid Uranium – Transition Metal Oxide Cage Clusters. Inorganic Chemistry 2014, 53, 12877–12884.

Pius O. Adelani, Nicholas A. Martinez, Nathaniel D. Cook & Peter C. Burns. Uranyl–Organic Hybrids Designed from Hydroxyphosphonate. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2015, 340–347.

Pius O. Adelani, Nathaniel D. Cook & Peter C. Burns. Use of 2,2-Bipyrimidine for the Preparation of UO₂²⁺─3d Diphosphonates. Cryst. Growth Des. 2014, 14, 5692–5699.

Pius O. Adelani, Nathaniel D. Cook, Jean-Marie Babo & Peter C. Burns. Incorporation of Cu²⁺ Ions into Nanotubular Uranyl Diphosphonates. Inorganic Chemistry 2014, 53, 4169–4176.

Craig A. Obafemi, Pius O. Adelani, Olatomide A. Fadare, David A. Akinpelu, & Samson O. Famuyiwa. Synthesis, crystal structure and in-vitro antibacterial activity of 2,3a,8b-trihydroxy-3-(thiophen-2-ylcarbonyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2,3,3a,8b-tetrahydro-4H-indeno[1,2-b]furan-4-one. Journal of Molecular Structure 2013, 1049, 429–435.

Pius O. Adelani, Michael Ozga, Christine M. Wallace, Jie Qiu, Jennifer E. S. Szymanowski, Ginger E. Sigmon & Peter C. Burns. Hybrid Uranyl-Carboxyphosphonate Cage Clusters. Inorganic Chemistry 2013, 52, 7673–7679.

Pius O. Adelani, Ginger E. Sigmon & Peter C. Burns. Hybrid Uranyl-Arsonate Coordination Nanocages. Inorganic Chemistry 2013, 52, 6245–6247 (Featured article in Chemistry Views and TOC graphic placed on the highlight module located on the IC homepage).

Pius O. Adelani, Laurent J. Jouffret, Jennifer E. S. Szymanowski & Peter C. Burns. Correlations and Differences between Uranium(VI) Arsonates and Phosphonates. Inorganic Chemistry 2012, 51, 12032–12040.

Pius O. Adelani & Peter C. Burns. One-Dimensional Uranyl-2,2′-bipyridine Coordination Polymer with Cation–Cation Interactions: (UO₂)₂(2,2′-bpy)(CH₃CO₂)(O)(OH). Inorganic Chemistry 2012, 51, 11177–11183.

Adebomi A. Ikotun, Pius O. Adelani & Gabriel O. Egharevba. 11-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3,3-dimethyl-2,3,4,5,10,11-hexahydro-1H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]-diazepin-1-one monohydrate. Acta Cryst. 2012, E68, o2098.

Olatomide A. Fadare, Pius O. Adelani, Adebomi A. Ikotun & Craig A. Obafemi. 11-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3,3-dimethyl-2,3,4,5,10,11-hexahydro-1H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]-diazepin-1-one monohydrate. Acta Cryst. 2012, E68, o1508-o1509.

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Layered Uranyl Coordination Polymers Rigidly Pillared by Diphosphonates. Cryst. Growth Des. 2012, 12, 5800–5805.

Pius O. Adelani, Allen G. Oliver & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Uranyl Heteropolyoxometalates: Synthesis, Structures, and Spectroscopic Properties. Inorganic Chemistry 2012, 51, 4885−4887.

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Thorium and Uranium Diphosphonates: Syntheses, Structures, and Spectroscopic Properties. J. Solid State Chem. 2012, 192, 377–384.

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Metal-Controlled Assembly of Uranyl Diphosphonates toward the Design of Functional Uranyl Nanotubules. Inorganic Chemistry 2011, 50, 12184-12191 (Recognized with Cover Art Feature).

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Heterobimetallic Copper(II) Uranyl Carboxyphenylphosphonates. Cryst. Growth Des. 2011, 11, 4676–4683.

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Syntheses of Uranyl Diphosphonate Compounds Using Encapsulated Cations as Structure Directing Agents. Cryst. Growth Des. 2011, 11, 4227-4237.

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Pillared and Open-Framework Uranyl Diphosphonates. J. Solid State Chem. 2011, 184, 2368-2373.

Pius O. Adelani, Allen G. Oliver & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Layered and Three-Dimensional Framework Cesium and Barium Uranyl Carboxyphenyl-phosphonates. Cryst. Growth Des. 2011, 11, 3072–3080.

Pius O. Adelani, Allen G. Oliver & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Organically Templated Uranyl Diphosphonate Compounds. Cryst. Growth Des. 2011, 11, 1966–1973.

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Differential Ion Exchange in Elliptical Uranyl Diphosphonate Nanotubules. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2010, 49, 8909-8911; Angewandte Chemie 2010, 122, 9093-9095.

Pius O. Adelani, Allen G. Oliver, and Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. “Crystal structures and physico-chemical properties of actinide carboxyphosphonates” Plutonium Futures- The Science 2010, 145-146.

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Comparison of Thorium (IV) and Uranium (VI) Carboxyphosphonates. Inorganic Chemistry 2010, 49, 5701–5705.

Pius O. Adelani & Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt. Uranyl Diphosphonates with Pillared Structures. Inorganic Chemistry 2009, 48, 2732-2734.

Pius O. Adelani. Synthetic Pathway of 8-Hydroxyl-9, 10 Dimethoxy-anthracene-2-Aldehyde (Oruwalol). European Journal of Scientific Research 2007, 16, 44-54.