Synthesis and characterization of iron tin oxide thin films from single source bimetallic precursors

Two new bimetallic precursors, [(C5H5)Fe(C5H4)COOSn(C4H9)(3)] (A(1)) and [(C5H5)Fe(C5H4)COOSn(C6H5)(3)] (A(2)), were synthesized by reacting 4-ferrocenylbenzoic acid with tributyltin chloride and triphenyltin chloride in refluxing toluene. Single crystal analysis showed the molecules to adopt the usual trigonal bipyramidal geometry, the ferrocene ligand being perpendicular to the phenyl ring and tin carboxylate cycle. Thermogravimetric studies revealed the decomposition of both synthesized compounds in the range 450-500 degrees C, leaving a residue corresponding to the mass of SnO2 center dot 1/2Fe(2)O(3) for A(1) and SnO2 center dot Fe2O3 for A(2). The synthesized compounds were used as precursors for depositing FeSnOx thin films by aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) on a glass substrate (at 400 and 450 degrees C). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the thin films showed the formation of spherical globules at 450 degrees C for both precursors, with the average roughness of the thin films being 2.48 and 3.41 nm for A(1) and A(2), respectively. The XRD pattern for A(1) at 450 degrees C shows the incorporation of the iron in a substitutional position in the tin oxide lattice due to the small difference in their atomic radii. In the case of A(2), only spinel iron oxide (magnetite and maghemite) with the dominance of maghemite is found. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.