Faculty Profile

Amala Dass
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Phone Number: (662)915-1826
Email: amal@olemiss.edu
http://nanomolecules.yolasite.com/group.php

Key Words: Gold Nanoparticles, Nanomaterials, Analytical Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry, Inorganic

Research Description: Nanoscience is a new area of science that has generated excitement worldwide. Nanomaterials are being developed to address some of the world’s biggest challenges, including: clean, affordable energy; stronger, lighter, more durable materials; medical devices and drugs to detect and treat diseases; sensors to detect harmful chemical or biological agents; lighting that uses a fraction of the energy; low-cost filters to provide clean drinking water. We work on molecular gold nanoparticles (<2nm) that have precise number of gold atoms and ligands. Commercialization of nanomaterials and design of nanoengineered products will require: understanding of the fundamental properties; controlled synthetic and processing conditions. In my research group, we work on synthesis and characterization (mass spectrometry, NMR, optical spectroscopy) of these molecular gold nanoparticles.

I emphasize that UG students working in my group aim for publications in peer-reviewed journals Previous undergraduate student publications include:

  1. Jupally, V. R.; Thrasher, J. G.; Dass, A. Analyst 2014, 139, 1826.
  2. Crasto, D.; Malola, S.; Brosofsky, G.; Dass, A.; Häkkinen, H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 5000.
  3. Knoppe, S.; Dharmaratne, A. C.; Schreiner, E.; Dass, A.; Bürgi, T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 16783.
  4. Angel, L. A.; Majors, L. T.; Dharmaratne, A. C.; Dass, A. ACS Nano 2010, 4, 4691.
  5. Dharmaratne, A. C.; Krick, T.; Dass, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 13604.

Honors Theses:

Hood, Christopher Harrison (2022) Collision-Induced Dissociation and Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry of Au30(S-tBu)18 Nanoclusters (full text)

Turnage, Elizabeth (2020) Gold Nanoparticles: Core Conversion of Au144(SCH2CH2Ph)60 to Au99(SPh-CH3)42 Using Aromatic Thiolate Ligands and Crystallization of Au99(SPh-CH3)42 (full text)

Theivendran, Shevanuja (2017) Gold and Alloy Nanomolecules: Synthesis, Ligand Induced Core Conversion, Characterization, and Atomic Structure. (full text)

Available Research Projects:

X-ray Crystallographic Analysis of Gold Thiolate Nanomolecules

Project Description: In this project, we group single crystals of ultra-small (< 2 nanometers) gold nanomolecules and study it using X-ray crystallography. The student will have hands on experience in cutting-edge chemical synthesis, instrumental characterization and X-ray Crystallography. Previous undergraduate student publications include: (1) Jupally, V. R.; Thrasher, J. G.; Dass, A. Analyst 2014, 139, 1826. (2) Crasto, D.; Malola, S.; Brosofsky, G.; Dass, A.; Häkkinen, H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 5000. (3) Knoppe, S.; Dharmaratne, A. C.; Schreiner, E.; Dass, A.; Bürgi, T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 16783. (4) Angel, L. A.; Majors, L. T.; Dharmaratne, A. C.; Dass, A. ACS Nano 2010, 4, 4691. (5) Dharmaratne, A. C.; Krick, T.; Dass, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 13604.

Desired Student Qualifications: GPA 3.8 or higher; preferably freshmen or sophomore, other will be considered; Hard-working, motivated and ambitious students are encouraged to apply.

Project Timeline: 12 - 36 months, depending on the nature of project

Duties of Student Researcher: 20 hours (or greater) per week in the lab; mandatory weekly research presentation; UG students in my group routinely publish in peer-reviewed journals

Last Updated on 2014-09-05 10:13:05