Crystalline Cu-PbO ceramic composite thin films from Pb2(OAc)4(μ-O)3Cu6(dmae)4Cl4·(C7H8)·1.7(H2O)

► Pb-Cu heterobimetallic complex Pb2(OAc)4(μ-O)3Cu6(dmae)4Cl4·(C7H8)·1.7(H2O) is synthesized by simple chemical technique. ► The complex decomposes directly under AACVD conditions at a relatively low temperature of 450 °C to give Cu-PbO composite thin films. ► TGA, XRD and SEM/EDX results reveal it to be a suitable precursor for the deposition of phase pure Cu-PbO ceramic composite thin films.