Mixed Metal Oxide Synthesis by Thermolyses of Simple Heteropolymetallic Precursors in Oxygen

ABSTRACTStepwise transmetalation of the neutral molecular target (µ4-O)N4 Cu4 C16(N is a monodentate pyridine) with M(NS)n transmealators (NS is a monanionic S-methyl hydrazinecarbodithioate ligand, M is Co (n = 2 or 3), Ni or Zn (n = 2)) in aprotic solvents gives a large family of heteropolymetallic products (µ4 - O)N4 (Co,Ni,Cu,Zn)4 C16 that contain from one to four different metals. Thermolysis of these solid products in flowing O2 at 220 - 250°C gives uniform, highly dispersed mixtures of the respective metal oxides. For example, thermolysis of bulk precursor (µ4 -O)N4 CoNiCuZnCl6 gives a uniform mixture of 1 - 2° particles of Co3 O4, NiO, CuO and ZnO.