Interaction of nickel aminoalkoxide with samarium β-diketonate – Identification of new precursors for MOCVD synthesis of SmNiO3 perovskite films

The interaction of the nickel aminoalkoxide Ni(OCH(CH3)CH2NMe2)2 with commercial anhydrous samarium 2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl heptanedionate, Sm(thd)3, resulted in the isolation of mixed-ligand complexes, Sm2(OCH(CH3)CH2NMe2)2(thd)4 (1) and [Ni(OCH(CH3)CH2NMe2)(thd)(HOCH(CH3)CH2NMe2)·Ni(thd)2(HOCH(CH3)CH2NMe2)] (2), together with minor amounts of Ni(thd)2(HOCH(CH3)CH2NMe2)(H2O)0.5–x (3). The complexes have been structurally characterized by X-ray single crystal studies. A TGA investigation showed that both major products are volatile and evaporate essentially completely in the same temperature interval of 280–310 °C, making mixed solutions of the nickel aminoalkoxide and Sm(thd)3, being potentially interesting as precursors for liquid injection MOCVD applications in the synthesis of SmNiO3 perovskite.

Graphical abstractThe interaction of Ni(II) aminoalkoxide with samarium beta-diketonate results in the formation of mixed-ligand volatile complexes sharing a thermal window for evaporation, which makes them, in combination, attractive as precursors for SmNiO3 perovskite material in MOCVD synthesis.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The interaction of a samarium beta-diketonate with a nickel aminoalkoxide has been investigated. ► The resulting heteroleptic complexes have been isolated and structurally characterized. ► The thermal behaviour of the heteroleptic complexes has been investigated. ► A common thermal window for the evaporation of the samarium and nickel precursors has been identified.