Synthesis and characterization of a heterobimetallic Cu–Zr complex for deposition of 1:1 CuZrO3–CuO composite thin films

Abstract

A well-defined heterobimetallic complex, [Cu4Zr2(μ4-O)2(dmae)4(OAc)8]·2H2O 1 where dmae=N,N-dimethylaminoethanolato and OAc=acetato, has been constructed by the chemical reaction of Cu(OAc)2·2H2O with Zr(dmae)4 in THF. Complex 1 was characterized by its melting point, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. X-ray crystallography shows that complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with the cell dimensions a=14.7414(5), b=11.7378(4) and c=14.8196(5)Å and β=94.826(2)°. The nature of the thermolysis of 1 showed its aptitude to give a 1:1 CuZrO3:CuO composite oxide material at 575°C. The high solubility and stability of 1 in common organic solvents suggest its efficacy as a single source precursor (SSP) in the aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition technique for the formation of a CuZrO3–CuO composite thin film on a soda lime glass substrate under an air atmosphere. Thin film properties, such as crystallinity, identification of deposited phases, surface morphology and chemical compositions were probed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis, which ascertained the evolution of good quality crystalline hemispherical architecture composite oxide thin films from 1.