Novel Heteroleptic Heterobimetallic Alkoxide Complexes as Facile Single-Source Precursors for Ta5+ Doped TiO2−SnO2 Nanoparticles
Résumé
The nanometric mixed tin−titanium oxide doped with a M5+ cation was recently shown as a promising thermoelectric material. We report here synthesis of novel molecular precursors for above material using a convenient approach of reacting a metal chloride with a metal alkoxide. Heterometallic complexes with simple addition formula [(EtOH)2(OEt)2Ti(μ-OEt)2SnCl4] (1·EtOH) and [(EtOH)(OEt)3Ta(μ-OEt)2SnCl4] (2) were isolated in quantitative yield, which on recrystallization from isopropanol afforded mixed-alkoxide complexes [(PriOH)2(OPri)2Ti(μ-OEt)2SnCl4] (3) and [(PriOH)(OPri)3Ta(μ-OEt)2SnCl4] (4), respectively, thus indicating the robustness of the heterometallic M(μ-OEt)2Sn core in the solution phase. Facile conversion of these precursors to halide-free spinodal form of Ta5+-doped TiO2−SnO2 as a potential thermoelectric material is reported.