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.