Thermal Decomposition of [Cu(H2O)2(C8H4O4)], [CuNi(H2O)4(C8H4O4)2], and [Ni(H2O)2(C8H4O4)2](H2O)2 with the Formation of Metal and Bimetal Nanoparticles

A comparison is made of the thermoanalytical characteristics and the composition and structure of solid products of the thermal decomposition of ortho-phthalates [Cu(H2O)(2)(C8H4O4)], [CuNi(H2O)(4)(C8H4O4)(2)], and [Ni(H2O)(2)(C8H4O4)](H2O)(2). It is found that the thermal decomposition of these compounds upon heating to 500 degrees C in a He atmosphere can be conditionally divided into two stages: dehydration and decarboxylation. Polymer conglomerates containing uncoated Cu nanoparticles as large as 75 nm are embedded into the polymer matrix of the composite obtained via the thermal decomposition of [Cu(H2O)(2)(C8H4O4)]. Three types of nanoparticles with sizes of 40-85, 15-25, and 10-15 nm are embedded in the polymer matrices of composites. The particles are Cu-x/Ni1-x solid solutions of different compositions, obtained via the thermolysis of [CuNi(H2O)(4)(C8H4O4)(2)]. It is found that the onset temperature of [CuNi(H2O)(4)(C8H4O4)(2)] decarboxylation at the third part of the second stage with the formation of a three-phase region correlates with the temperature of decomposition of Cu-x/Ni1 - (x) solid solutions in the binary metal system, due apparently to the quantum size effect.