Synthesis and structures of cobalt-expanded zirconium- and cerium-oxo clusters as precursors for mixed-metal oxide...

Transforming current complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology to fabricate memory chips and microprocessors into environmentally friendlier electronics requires the development of new approaches to resource- and energy-efficient electron transport and switching materials. Metal and multi-metal oxide layers play a key role in high-end technical applications. However, these layers are commonly produced through high-energy and high-temperature procedures. Herein, we demonstrate our first attempts to obtain stimuli-responsive mixed-metal oxide thin films from solution-processed molecular precursors under milder conditions. The molecular compounds of interest were prepared by one-pot reactions of a Co^II carboxylate complex, triethylamine (Et₃N), N-butyldiethanolamine (H₂bda), and a hexanuclear complex [Ce₆O₄(OH)₄(piv)₁₂] (Hpiv = pivalic acid) or [Zr₆O₄(OH)₄(ib)₁₂(H₂O)]·3Hib (Hib = isobutyric acid) in acetonitrile solution. The resulting charge-neutral, heterometallic coordination compounds display a ligand-supported pentanuclear {CeIV3CoIII2} core (in 1) and a dodecanuclear {ZrIV6CoII6} core (in 2), exhibiting thermal stability up to ca. 100 °C in air. Compound 2 was deposited and analyzed on Au(111) and SiO₂/Si(100) surfaces to explore its potential as a single-molecule precursor for the preparation of atomically precise, complex mixed-metal oxide thin films. The adsorption characteristics of it demonstrate the ability to form stable agglomerates on the investigated surfaces.