Novel heteroleptic heterobimetallic alkoxide complexes as facile single-source precursors for Ta(5+) doped TiO(2)-SnO(2) nanoparticles.

The nanometric mixed tin-titanium oxide doped with a M(5+) 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(μ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (1·EtOH) and [(EtOH)(OEt)(3)Ta(μ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (2) were isolated in quantitative yield, which on recrystallization from isopropanol afforded mixed-alkoxide complexes [(Pr(i)OH)(2)(OPr(i))(2)Ti(μ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (3) and [(Pr(i)OH)(OPr(i))(3)Ta(μ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (4), respectively, thus indicating the robustness of the heterometallic M(μ-OEt)(2)Sn core in the solution phase. Facile conversion of these precursors to halide-free spinodal form of Ta(5+)-doped TiO(2)-SnO(2) as a potential thermoelectric material is reported.