Structurally characterized erbium alkoxides for use as an amphoteric dopant in PErZT ceramic thin film and nanoparticles

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ejic.200700314

A family of erbium alkoxides [Er(OR)₃] was prepared from the reaction of Er[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃ with a series of alcohols (HOR) in selected solvents and crystallographically characterized as: [Er(μ-Onep)₂(Onep)]₄, (1), [Er₄(μ ₄-O)(μ₃-Onep)(μ-Onep)₅-(Onep) ₄(py)₃] (3), Er₃(μ₃-OtBu) ₂(μ-OtBu)₃(OtBu)₄(HOtBu)₂ (4), Er₃(μ₃-O)(μ-OtBu)₄(OtBu) ₃(py)₃ (7), Er(dmp)₃(solv)₃ [solv = thf (9), py (10)], [Er(η-dip)(dip)₂]₂ (11), Er(dip)₃(thf)₂ (12), [Er(μ-OH)(dbp)₂(thf)] ₂ (15), Er(dbp)₃(py)₂ (16), [Er(μ-tps)-(tps)₂]₂ (17), Er(tps)₃(solv) ₃ [solv = thf (18) and (py) (19)] where Onep = neopentoxide (OCH ₂CMe₃), OtBu = tert-butoxide (OCMe₃), dmp = 2,6-dimethylphenoxide [OC₆H₃-(Me)₂-2,6], dip = 2,6-diisopropylphenoxide [OC₆H₃-(CHMe₂) ₂-2,6], dbp = 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide [OC₆H ₃-(CMe₃)₂-2,6], tps = triphenylsiloxide [OSi(C₆H₅)₃], tol = toluene, thf = tetrahydrofuran, and py = pyridine. The structures observed and data collected for the Er family of compounds are, in general, consistent with those reported previously for the Dy congeners over the range of solvated mono-, di-, tri-, and tetranuclear species. Representative members of the Er(OR)₃ precursors were used for the production of a PErZT precursor solution, which was subsequently used to generate thin films and nanoparticles. Further, these select Er precursors were used to generate Er₂O₃ nanoparticles. The full characterization of this family of compounds is reported along with the results of the materials investigations. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2007.