Biography
Michael Hay, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, teaches general chemistry lectures and laboratories, a chemistry course for non-STEM majors, and conducts research with undergraduate students.
Focused on student-centered teaching, Dr. Hay’s students study atoms and molecules. They gain broad familiarity of the language of chemistry and learn the proper use of chemical notation that is used to accurately imagine our world at the atomic and molecular level. Classes are a combination of engaging presentations and dialogues with students and hands-on exercises to practice chemistry either on paper or in the lab. Students looking to major in the sciences may also have the opportunity to engage in undergraduate research opportunities that will provide them with a strong foundation for a career in research.
Research Interests
- Synthetic inorganic chemistry, with a special focus on developing and characterizing new polyhedral oligomeric metallo-silsesquioxanes (POMSS) with the ability to catalyze the production of lactones that play an important role in pharmaceutical production.
- Chemical pedagogy
Publications
Bis(tetrabutylammonium) Tetrachloridomanganate(II) Dichloromethane Disolvate, IUCrData - July 14, 2023
Collaborator: Hemant Yennawar, Author
Tetraphenylphosphonium tetra(trimethylsilanolate)ferrate, IUCrData - January 9, 2018
Collaborator: Hemant Yennawar, Author
Analytical Methods for Pesticide Residues in the Water Environment, Water Environment Research - October, 2015
Collaborators: H Liang, Author; Navdeep Bilon, Author
Analytical Methods for Pesticide Residues, Water Environment Research - October, 2014
Collaborators: H Liang, Author; Navdeep Bilon, Author
Analytical Methods for Pesticide Residues, Water Environment Research - October, 2013
Collaborators: H Liang, Author; Navdeep Bilon, Author
Analytical Methods for Pesticide Residues, Water Environment Research - October, 2012
Collaborators: H Liang, Author; A Drake Meneghetti, Secondary Author
Tetrabutylammonium Tetrakis(trimethylsilanolato-κO)ferrate(III), Acta Crystallographic Section E: Structure Reports Online - August 23, 2012
Collaborators: Staples Richard, Author; Andre Lee
Analytical Methods for Pesticides and Herbicides, Water Environment Research - October, 2011
Collaborator: H Liang, Author
A Novel Linear Titanium (IV)-POSS Coordination Polymer, Macromolecules - February 9, 2010
Collaborators: Bradley Seurer, Author; Daniel Holmes, Author; Andre Lee, Author
Aerobic oxidation of tetrahydrofuran by a series of iron (III) containing POSS compounds, Polyhedron - July 6, 2009
Collaborators: Steven Geib, Author; Derek Pettner, Author
Tetrabutylammonium isobutyl silsesquioxane monochloroferrate(III), Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online - 2007
Collaborator: S Geib
Hard Lessons: The Transition from Graduate TA to Regional Branch Campus Science Professor, The Journal of Faculty Development - 2005
Collaborator: P Deutsch
Tetrabutylammonium tetrachloroferrate(III), Acta Crystallographic Section E: Structure Reports Online - 2005
Collaborator: S Geib
New Fe(III) and Os(VI) Silsesquioxanes, Inorganica Chimica Acta - 2003
Collaborators: P Shapley; W Bigham
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Compound, Inorganic Chemistry Communications - 2003
Collaborators: B Hainaut, Co-Author; S Geib
Metal-Binding Properties of an Engineered Purple CuA Center in Azurin, J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. - 2000
Collaborator: Y Lu
Structural Basis of Electron Transfer Modulation in Purple CuA Center, Biochemistry - 1999
Collaborators: H Robinson; M Ang; Y-G Gao; Y Lu; A Wang
XAS Studies of the CuA Centers of Heme-Copper Oxidases and Loop-Directed Mutants of Azurin: Implications for Redox Reactivity - 1998
Collaborators: N Blackburn; M Ralle; D Sanders; J Fee; S de Vries
Spectroscopic Characterization of an Engineered Purple CuA Center in Azurin, Inorg. Chem. - 1998
Collaborators: M Ang; D Gamelin; E Solomon; W Antholine; M Ralle
Spectroscopy of Mixed-Valence CuA-Type Centers: Ligand-Field Control of Ground-State Properties Related to Electron Transfer, J. Am. Chem. Soc. - 1998
Collaborators: D Gamelin; D Randall; R Houser; T Mulder; G Canters
Construction and Characterization of an Azurin Analog for the Purple Copper Site in Cytochrome c Oxidase, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A - 1996
Collaborators: J Richards; Y Lu
Preparation and Characterization of Mercury and Silver Derivatives of an Engineered Purple Copper Center in Azurin, J. Am. Chem. Soc. - 1996
Collaborators: R Milberg; Y Lu
Engineered Cupredoxins and Bacterial Cytochrome c Oxidases Have Similar CuA Sites: Evidence from Resonance Raman Spectroscopy, J. Am. Chem. Soc. - 1995
Collaborators: C Andrew; P Lappalainen; M Saraste; Y Lu; C Dennison
Education
Ph D, Chemistry - Inorganic, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MS, Chemistry - Inorganic, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
BS, Chemistry, Bowling Green State University
Papers and Presentations
January 28, 2026
Posters
Synthesis and Characterization of an Iron (III) POSS Trimethylamine N-oxide Compound
Penn State Behrend Faculty Showcase 2026
Behrend, PA
The previously characterized tetrabutylammonium iron(III) chloride POSS ([NBu4][FeClPOSS]) was treated with silver tetrafluoroborate (AgBF4) in the presence of trimethylamine N-oxide ((CH3)3N-O). The silver ions removed the chloride from the iron (III) POSS. The resulting Lewis acid reacted in situ with the Lewis basic trimethylamine N-oxide resulting in the title compound. The compound was purified and crystallized from cold toluene and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
August 19, 2025
Posters
Synthesis, Characterization, and Computational Analysis of an Isobutyl POSS Iron (III) Triphenylphosphine Oxide Compound
Fall 2025 National Meeting of the American Chemical Society
Washington, D.C.
Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have been the focus of our group for several years. Recently, we have synthesized, purified, and characterized a novel isobutyl POSS iron (III) triphenylphosphine oxide compound. It was prepared by treating tetrabutylammonium iron (III) chloride POSS, [NBu4][(C4H9)7Si7O12FeCl] with silver tetrafluoroborate, AgBF4, in the presence of triphenylphosphine oxide (Ph3PO). The silver ion removed the chloride from the iron (III) POSS. The resulting Lewis acid reacted in situ with the Lewis basic Ph3PO resulting in the title compound. The compound was purified and was then characterized by infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, melting point, and magnetic susceptibility. Additional computational calculations were completed using the XRD data to accurately assign the infrared spectrum.
April 30, 2025
Posters
Synthesis and Characterization of an Iron (III) POSS Trimethylamine N-oxide Compound
Undergraduate Exhibition
Monaca, PA
The previously characterized tetrabutylammonium iron (III) chloride POSS ([NBu4][FeClPOSS]) was treated with silver tetrafluoroborate (AgBF4) in the presence of trimethylamine N-oxide ((CH3)3N-O). The silver ions removed the chloride from the iron (III) POSS. The resulting Lewis acid reacted in situ with the Lewis basic trimethylamine N-oxide resulting in the title compound. The compound was purified and crystallized from cold toluene and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
September 20, 2024
Oral Presentations
A new strategy for CHEM 101: Providing the help they need when they need it.
Curiosity and Collaboration: A General Education Colloquium
State College, PA, USA
Penn State chemistry faculty have been seeking new strategies to help their first semester college chemistry students succeed. At the Commonwealth campuses (CWC), a group of chemistry faculty have worked together over the past year to repurpose CHEM 101 (GN) as a hybrid mid-semester replacement course for students struggling with CHEM 110 (GN). Representatives from this CWC micro-network of chemistry faculty will share their stories about how they have collaborated to develop and deliver this new hybrid version of CHEM 101. Come and hear how this unique “slide over” strategy is retaining students by providing them with the help they need when they need it, while also providing the flexibility for other students to change their major without impeding their progress towards graduation.
June 7, 2024
Oral Presentations
Sliding the chemistry barrier: A mid-semester replacement course for struggling general chemistry students
Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society
State College, PA, USA
Attrition in first semester general chemistry is a perennial problem. Since the COVID-19 lockdown, an increasing number of first-year general chemistry students have been arriving on campus unprepared for general chemistry. Universities are increasingly unwilling to require remedial courses because of their effect on time to graduation. At Penn State, a group of faculty from multiple campuses have come together to develop a slide-over remediation course. The course provides struggling students the opportunity to move into a seven-week introductory course that has been designed to provide a foundation that could enable them to succeed. ALEKS Chemistry is used for a substantial portion of the content. This paper will describe the goals and design of this course and present preliminary data.
April 29, 2023
Presentations
A Mid-semester Chem 110 Replacement Course
Science Division Meeting
April 26, 2023
Posters
The Decomposition of Triphenyl Phosphine Oxide in the Presence of an Iron (III) POSS Compound
Undergraduate Exhibition
Monaca, PA
Previously iron (III) POSS compounds have been shown to catalyze the aerobic oxidation of tetrahydrofuran (Polyhedron. 2009, 28, 2183-2186). In this presentation, the potential catalytic decomposition of triphenylphosphine oxide will be investigated. We have already shown that when isobutyl iron (III) chloro POSS, [((CH3)2CHCH2)7Si7O12FeCl], is treated with silver tetrafluoroborate (AgBF4) the chloride ion is removed generating a yet unidentified iron (III) POSS complex. This complex in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of triphenylphosphine oxide (Ph3PO) generated oxygen gas and triphenylphosphine (Ph3P). We will present additional data to determine if the reaction could not only be stoichiometric but catalytic.
April 1, 2019
Posters
Development of a new synthetic method for the synthesis of iron containing ionic POSS polymers
257th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society
Orlando, FL
We previously reported a synthetic method for preparing an iron POSS polymer. Based on elemental analysis at the time we believed the material to be pure; however, later analysis by EPR, SQUID, and Magnetic Susceptibility measurements showed a mixture of two distinct iron containing materials. Based on the literature, a second iron-containing substance may have resulted from treatment of the POSS with a Brønsted –Lowry base such as sodium methoxide or triethylamine. We will present a new synthetic method for preparing these materials absent the addition of an external Brønsted–Lowry base. This new synthetic protocol and the analysis of the resulting product from this method will be reported, and comparisons will be made with the products obtained from the original synthetic approach.
April 25, 2018
Posters
Development of a New Synthetic Method for the Synthesis of Iron Containing Ionic POSS Polymers
Undergraduate Exhibition
Monaca, PA
The previously reported synthetic method for preparing iron POSS polymers produced a mixture of iron containing materials (1). Based on the literature, this may have resulted from treatment of the POSS with a Brønsted–Lowry base such as sodium methoxide or triethylamine (2). I will present a new synthetic method for preparing these materials absent a Brønsted–Lowry base, by reacting the TetraSilanolPhenylPOSS directly with TetraPhenylPhosphonium tetrakis(trimethylsilanolato)iron(III) (3). The synthetic protocol and the analysis of the resulting product from this method will be reported, and comparisons will be made with the products obtained from the original synthetic method. (1) Hay, M. T. et al., Abstracts of Papers, 250th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Boston, MA, United States, August 16-20, 2015, CHED-276. Publisher: (American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C). (2) Manicke, N. et al., Inorganic Chemistry 2017 56 (14), 8554-8561. (3) Hay, M. T. et al., IUCRData 2018 3 x171823.
April 13, 2016
Posters
Synthesis and Characterization of a New Iron Containing POSS Monomer
Undergraduate Research, Engaged Scholarship, and Creative Activity Fair
Monaca, PA
Our project involves the synthesis and characterization of a new iron containing monomer. Monomers are the subunits that make up macromolecules known as polymers. Many of these polymers are used in everyday life in the form of plastics, foams, and other modern materials. By having iron already in the monomer, any resulting polymer could potentially have unique magnetic and or electrical properties. Our proposed synthesis for the monomer (Figure 1) involves the reaction of TetraSilanolPhenyl POSS (1) with TetraPhenylPhosphonium Iron (III) Chloro POSS (2) in the presence of one equivalent of triethylamine (Et3N) We will characterize the monomer through infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and x-ray crystallography.
August 17, 2015
Posters
Synthesis of an Iron (III) containing Phenyl POSS polymer
250th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society
Boston, MA
Metal containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, or POSS, have been the main focus of our group for several years. Recently, we have synthesized, purified, and characterized a novel iron (III) phenyl POSS polymer. The reaction between the TetraSilanol Phenyl POSS, (C6H5)8Si8O14H4, and tetraphenylphosphonium iron (III) tetrachloride, [(C6H5)4P][FeCl4], produced an iron (III) phenyl POSS ionic polymer. In this paper, we will present the synthesis, purification, and characterization of this new material.
April 15, 2015
Oral Presentations
Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization of a Novel Iron Containing Ionic Polymer
Undergraduate Research, Engaged Scholarship, and Creative Activity Fair
Monaca, PA
We present the synthesis and purification of an iron containing ionic polymer that may have unique magnetic and electrical properties. The synthesis involved the reaction of TetraSilanolPhenylPOSS (1) with TetraPhenylPhosphoniumIron(III)Tetrachloride (2). Infrared spectroscopy (IR) suggested that iron successfully bound to 1. The IR shifted the Si-O-H band from 897 cm-1 to 993 cm-1 suggesting the formation of Si-O-Fe linkages. The IR data also suggested the polymer was impure and contained both TetraPhenylPhosphonium cations (Ph4P+, > 2900 cm-1) and TriEthylAmmonium cations (Et3NH+, < 2900 cm-1). Via an ion exchange reaction, the polymeric product was purified to contain only Ph4P+.
April 3, 2013
Posters
Preparation of a Manganese (II) POSS Compound
12th Annual Penn State Beaver Undergraduate Research Fair
Monaca, PA
My project involves the attempted synthesis of a novel manganese (II) POSS compound. Preliminary infrared spectroscopic data suggests that we have been successful in binding a manganese atom to a POSS. We have, however, been unable to isolate this new compound. My presentation will include our strategies for the synthesis, purification, and characterization of this manganese (II) POSS which could potentially have important catalytic properties that may be investigated in a later study.
April 6, 2011
Posters
Preparation of an Iron POSS Polymer
10th Annual Penn State Beaver Undergraduate Research Fair
Monaca, PA
A purple iron POSS material has been previously synthesized in our lab. However, repetition of the experiment has yet to provide the same result. We are attempting to repeat the initial findings, and understand the cause of this unusual color for an iron containing material.
April 7, 2010
Oral Presentations
The Preparation of a Model Compound for an Iron Phenyl POSS Ionomer
9th Annual Penn State Beaver Undergraduate Research Fair
Monaca, PA
April 1, 2009
Oral Presentations
The synthesis of a potential chemotherapy agent: 2, 3-diphenyl thiazolidin-4-one adduct of iron (III) tetrachloride
8th Annual Penn State Beaver Undergraduate Research Fair
Monaca, PA
April 1, 2009
Posters
The Synthesis and characterization of a neutral iron (III) acetonitrile POSS compound
8th Annual Penn State Beaver Undergraduate Research Fair
Monaca, PA
2008
Posters
The Synthesis and Characterization of 2,3-Disubstituted-Thiazolidin-4-One Adducts of Iron (III) POSS Complexes
235th American Chemical Society Meeting
2007
Posters
Aerobic Oxidation of Tetrahydrofuran Assisted by Varied Iron (III) chloro-POSS Compounds
233rd American Chemical Society Meeting
2006
Posters
Aerobic Oxidation of Various Ethers: a New Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Oxidation Catalyst
John T. and Paige S. Smith Undergraduate Science Research Symposium of University College
2004
Posters
Aerobic Ether Oxidation Assisted by an Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Complex
228th American Chemical Society Meeting
2003
Posters
Aerobic Ether Oxidation Assisted by an Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Complex
35th Central Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society Meeting
2003
Posters
Aerobic Ether Oxidation Assisted by an Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Complex
Graduate Symposium at Wayne State University
2002
Oral Presentations
Engineering a Purple CuA Metal Binding Site into the Blue Copper Protein Azurin
Indiana University of Pennsylvania Chemistry Seminar Series
2002
Oral Presentations
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Compound
Indiana University of Pennsylvania Chemistry Seminar Series
2002
Posters
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Compound
224th American Chemical Society Meeting
2002
Posters
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Compound
First Undergraduate Research Symposium of Division of Science of the Commonwealth College
2002
Posters
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Iron (III) Silsesquioxane Compound
POSS Nanotechnology Conference
2001
Posters
Reactions of Potassium Ferrate (VI) with High Oxidation State Metal Oxo Halides
222nd American Chemical Society Meeting
2000
Posters
Metal Binding Properties of the Engineered Purple CuA Center in Azurin
219th American Chemical Society Meeting
1997
Oral Presentations
Construction and Characterization of an Azurin Analog for the Purple Copper Site in Cytochrome c Oxidase: Spectroscopy and Metal Substitution Studies
213th American Chemical Society Meeting
1997
Oral Presentations
Construction and Characterization of an Azurin Analog for the Purple Copper Site in Cytochrome c Oxidase: Spectroscopy and Metal Substitution Studies
Davidson College Chemistry Colloquium
1995
Posters
Engineering Azurin into the Purple Copper Centers in Cytochrome c Oxidase and in Nitrous Oxide Reductase
210th American Chemical Society Meeting
1995
Posters
Engineering Azurin into the Purple Copper Centers in Cytochrome c Oxidase and in Nitrous Oxide Reductase
Inorganic Biochemistry Summer Workshop
1993
Posters
Synthesis of New Organoiron Complexes
206th American Chemical Society Meeting