Heterobimetallicd—f Metal Complexes as Potential Single-Source Precursors for MOCVD: Structure and Thermodynamic Study of the Sublimation of [Ni(salen)Ln(hfa)3], Ln = Y, Gd

Heterobimetallic [Ni(salen)Ln(hfa)3] species [H2salen and Hhfa being N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneimine) and hexa-fluoroacetylacetone respectively], where Ni(salen) acts as a neutral chelating ligand towards LnIII, form a series of isostructural compounds for Ln = YIII and any lanthanideIII cation from La to Yb. They are also isostructural with some of the [Cu(salen)Ln(hfa)3] compounds. They sublime without decomposition under vacuum which makes them potential single-source precursors in MOCVD. Sublimation, thermal behaviour, pressure and composition of the vapour phase versus temperature have been studied for the yttrium derivative, by means of thermal analyses, and mass spectrometry using a Knudsen cell. The dissociation process [Ni(salen)Y(hfa)3] = Ni(salen) + Y(hfa)3 has been thermodynamically investigated. Information on the solid-state intermolecular interactions in relation with volatility was obtained through the crystal structure determination of the gadolinium derivative. A comparative structural study of [Ni(salen)Gd(hfa)3] and [Cu(saloph)Y(hfa)3], [H2saloph is N,N′-o-phenylenebis(salicylideneimine)], allows to under-stand why the latter is less volatile than the former despite similar molecular and solid-state structures.