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U of M :: College of Liberal Arts :: Chemistry & Biochemistry :: Research & Teaching Faculty

Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Mississippi
University, MS 38677
(662) 915-7301
(662) 915-7300 (fax)

Amala Dass


Assistant Professor

Contact Information

Office: 352 Coulter Hall
Phone: 662-915-1826
Email: amal AT olemiss.edu

Educational and Professional Background

Ph.D., University of Missouri-Rolla, 2005
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina, 2008

Research Interests: Gold Nanoparticles, Nanomaterials, Analytical Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry, Inorganic

Research Summary

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.

Recent Publications

Gold Nanoclusters - Assistant Professor @ OleMiss

25. “Solvent-Dependent Stability of Monolayer-Protected Au38 Clusters” Outi Toikkanen, Sanna Carlsson, Amala Dass, Gunilla Ronnholm, Nisse Kalkkinen, Bernadette M. Quinn, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2010, 1,32–37.

24. “Nanocluster Size Evolution Studied by Mass Spectrometry in Room Temperature Au25(SR)18 Synthesis” A. C. Dharmaratne, T. Krick, A. Dass, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131,13604–13605.

23. “Mass Spectrometric Identification of Au68(SR)34 Molecular Gold Nanoclusters with 34-Electron Shell Closing” A. Dass, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 11666-11667.

Gold MPCs - Postdoc @ UNC-Chapel Hill

22. “Mass Spectrometry of Small Bimetal Monolayer-Protected Clusters” C. A. Fields-Zinna, M. C. Crowe, A. Dass, J. E. F. Weaver and R. W. Murray, Langmuir 2009, 25, 7704–7710.

21. “Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry of Au25(SCH2CH2Ph)18” A. Dass, G. Dubay, R. W. Murray, Anal. Chem. 2008, 80, 6845-6549.

20. “Nanoparticle MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry without Fragmentation: Au25(SCH2CH2Ph)18 and Mixed Monolayer Au25(SCH2CH2Ph)18-x(L)x”, A. Dass, A. Stevenson, G. R. Dubay, J. B. Tracy, R. W. Murray, J. Am. Chem. Soc.2008, 130, 5940-5946.

19. “Crystal structure of the Gold Nanoparticle [N(C8H17)4] [Au25SCH2CH2Ph)18]” M. Heaven, A. Dass, K. Holt, P. White, R. W. Murray, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 3754-3755.

18. “Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Uniform and Mixed Monolayer Nanoparticles: Au25[S(CH2)2Ph]18 and Au25[S(CH2)2Ph]18-x(SR)x”, J. B. Tracy, M. C. Crowe, J. F. Parker, O. Hampe, C. A. Fields-Zinna, A. Dass, R. W. Murray. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 16209-16215.

17. “Gold Nanoparticles with Perfluorothiolate Ligands”, A. Dass, R. Gao, J. B. Tracy, R. Balasubramanian, A. D. Douglas, R. W. Murray, Langmuir 2008, 24, 310-315.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY - Ph.D. @ MS&T

16. “Demonstration of the Elusive Concentration-Gradient Paramagnetic Force,” N. Leventis and A. Dass; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 4988-4989.

15. “Magnetic Field Effects on the Open Circuit Potential of Ferromagnetic Electrodes in Corroding Solutions,” A. Dass, J. A. Counsil, X. Gao and N. Leventis; J. Phys. Chem. B. 2005, 109, 11065-11073.

14. “Mass transfer effects on the electropolymerization current efficiency of 3-methylthiophene in the magnetic field”, N. Leventis, A. Dass, N. Chandrasekaran; J. Solid State Electrochem. 2006, 11, 727-735.

13. “Protection of 2-(3-Thienyl)ethanol with 3-Thienylacetic Acid and Hard Cross-linked conducting films by Electropolymerization of the Ester”, A. Dass, S. Mulik, C. Sotiriou-Leventis, N. Leventis; Synth. Met. 2006, 156, 966-972.

12. “Non-additive voltammetric currents from multicomponent systems of redox-active substances; A. Dass and N. Leventis Electrochimica Acta. 2005, 50, 4134-4139.

11. “Multiple Substitution Effects and Non-Linear Free Energy Relationships in the Electrochemical Reduction of the N,N’-Dibenzylviologen and the 4-Benzoyl-N-benzylpyridinium Cation,” N. Leventis, M. A. B. Meador, G. Zhang, A. Dass and C. Sotiriou-Leventis; J. Phys. Chem. B. 2004, 108, 11228-11235.

Materials: Aerogels / Spectroscopic & Electrochemical studies - Ph.D. @ MS&T

10. “Stresses at the interface of micro with nano” N. Leventis, S. Mulik, X. Wang, A. Dass, C Sotiriou-Leventis, H. Lu, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 10660-10661.

9. “Polymer nano-encapsulation of templated mesoporous silica monoliths with improved mechanical properties,” N. Leventis, S. Mulik, X. Wang, A. Dass, V. U. Patil, C. Sotiriou-Leventis, H. Lu, G. Churu, A. Capecelatro. J. Non-Cryst. Solids 2008, 354, 632-644.

8. “Polymer nanoencapsulated rare earth aerogels: chemically complex but stoichiometrically similar core-shell superstructures with skeletal properties of pure compounds” N. Leventis, P. Vassilaras, E. Fabrizio, A. Dass, J. Mater. Chem. 2007, 17, 1502-1508

7. “Hydrophobic monolithic aerogels by nanocasting polystyrene on amine-modified silica,” U. F. Ilhan, E. F. Fabrizio, L. McCorkle, D. A. Scheiman, A. Dass, A. Palczer, M. B. Meader, J. C. Johnston and N. Leventis, J. Mater. Chem., 2006, 16, 3046-3054.

6. “Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Characterization of Isocyanate-Crosslinked Amine-Modified Silica Aerogels,” A. Katti, N. Shimpi, S. Roy, H. Lu, E. F. Fabrizio, A. Dass, L. A. Capadona and N. Leventis, Chem. Mater. 2006, 18, 285-296.

5. “Cross-linking Amine-Modified Silica Aerogels with Epoxies: Mechanically Strong Lightweight Porous Materials,” M. A. B. Meador, E. F. Fabrizio, F. Ilhan, A. Dass, G. Zhang, P. Vassilaras, J.C. Johnston, and N. Leventis; Chem. Mater. 2005, 17, 1085-1098.

4. “Isocyanate Cross-Linked Silica Aerogel Monoliths: Preparation and Characterization,”G. Zhang, A. Dass, A.-M. M. Rawashdeh, J. Thomas, J. A. Counsil, C. Sotiriou-Leventis, E. F. Fabrizio, F. Ilhan, P. Vassilaras, D. A. Scheiman, L. McCorkle, A. Palczer, J. Chris Johnston, M. A. B. Meador and N. Leventis J. Non-Cryst. Solids, (ISA-7), 2004, 350, 152-164.

3. “Synthesis and Near IR Photoluminescence of Os(II) Bis(2,2’-bipyridine) (3,8-Diarylethynyl 1,10-phenanthroline) complexes. Study of the anomalous behavior of the 3,8-Di(4-nitrophenylethynyl)- Derivative,” J. Yang, A. Dass, C. Sotiriou-Leventis and N. Leventis; Inorg. Chim. Acta 2005, 358, 389-395.

2. “Arylethynyl Substituted 9,10-Anthraquinones: Tunable Stokes Shifts by Substitution and Solvent Polarity,” J. Yang, A. Dass, A.-M. M. Rawashdeh, C. Sotiriou-Leventis, D. S. Tyson, J. D. Kinder and N. Leventis; Chem. Mater. 2004, 16, 3457-3468.

1.. “Synthesis and Characterization of Ru(II) Tris(1,10-phenanthroline)-Electron Acceptor Dyads Incorporating the 4-Benzoyl-N-methylpyridinium Cation or N-Benzyl-N´-methylviologen: Improving the Dynamic Range, Sensitivity and Response Time of Sol-Gel Based Optical Oxygen Sensors,” N. Leventis, A.-M. M. Rawashdeh, I. A. Elder, J. Yang, A. Dass and C. Sotiriou-Leventis, Chem. Mater. 2004, 16, 1493-1506.



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