Novel Heteroleptic Heterobimetallic Alkoxide Complexes as Facile Single-Source Precursors for Ta5+ Doped TiO2-SnO2 Nanoparticles

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)(2)Ti(mu-OEt)(2)SnCl4] (1.EtOH) and [(EtOH)(OEt)(3)Ta(mu-OEt)(2)SnCl4] (2) were isolated in quantitative yield, which on recrystallization from isopropanol afforded mixed-alkoxide complexes [(Pr'OH)(2)(OPr')(2)Ti(mu-OEt)(2)SnCl4] (3) and [(Pr'OH)(OPr')(3)Ta(mu-OEt)(2)SnCl4] (4), respectively, thus indicating the robustness of the heterometallic M(mu-OEt)(2)Sn 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.