Double metal alkoxides of lithium: Synthesis, structure and applications in materials chemistry

Double metal alkoxides of lithium, also called heterometallic or bimetallic alkoxides, are a large group within the double metal alkoxide realm. Many of the synthetic procedures known for other double metal alkoxides can be used to make these complexes. Their structures are versatile: anything from small ring structures to large cage complexes and aggregates are possible, depending on the number of metal cations and the size of the ligands in the complex. These alkoxides make up an interesting group of potential precursors for materials chemistry. Lithium forms many multicomponent oxides, used mainly in lithium ion batteries and optical applications, and reaching the right metal stoichiometry is one of the biggest challenges in their manufacture. By using complexes such as double metal alkoxides, where the metal stoichiometry is fixed on a molecular level, the materials synthesis can be simplified. This review describes the synthesis, structure, volatility and precursor applications of double metal alkoxides of lithium.

► A large number of lithium double metal alkoxides exists.
► Many different structures are possible due to alkoxide bridging and lithium coordination.
► Double metal alkoxides are possible precursors for materials chemistry.
► Absence of volatility information hinders their use in gas phase thin film methods.