Partially fluorinated oxo-alkoxide tungsten(VI) complexes as precursors for deposition of WOx nanomaterials

The partially fluorinated oxo-alkoxide tungsten(VI) complexes WO(OR)4 [4; R = C(CH3)2CF3, 5; R = C(CH3)(CF3)2] have been synthesized as precursors for chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of WOx nanocrystalline material. Complexes 4 and 5 were prepared by salt metathesis between sodium salts of the fluoroalkoxides and WOCl4. Crystallographic structure analysis allows comparison of the bonding in 4 and 5 as the fluorine content of the fluoroalkoxide ligands is varied. Screening of 5 as a CVD precursor by mass spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis was followed by deposition of WOx nanorods.