Thermal oxidation of oxynitride perovskites in different atmospheres

Oxynitride perovskites with bright and variable colour have the potential to be employed as non-toxic pigments, and to substitute colourants that contain harmful heavy metals. For this application it is extremely important to have a precise knowledge about the materials stability. The thermal stability of oxynitride perovskites in different atmospheres was measured by thermogravimetry in combination with mass spectroscopy (MS). The studied compounds, namely LaTiO₂N, SrNbO₂N and SrTaO₂N, were heated up to 1200 °C in argon–oxygen mixtures with varying oxygen contents. It was found that the thermal behaviour of the studied oxynitrides changes drastically with the oxygen concentration. When heated up in pure argon the oxynitrides transform to oxides containing transition metals of lower oxidation state and/or binary nitrides. For oxygen contents between 0.5% and 20% the samples were completely oxidised. The oxidation rate increases with oxygen content. MS analysis of the gaseous products (including N₂, NO and NO₂) reveals a complex reaction mechanism, which is strongly modified by the composition of the atmosphere.     

Substrate-induced anisotropy of c-axis textured NaxCoO2 thin films

Na_xCoO₂ [x = 0.51, 0.54, and 0.59] thin films have been grown on SrTiO₃ (100)-oriented single crystals with a 5° vicinal cut towards [010] by pulsed laser deposition. We analysed the films by X-ray diffractometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dc-transport measurements. X-ray diffraction patterns of the films show single phase and c-axis textured growth with the film plane closely aligned to the [001]-direction of 5° miscut SrTiO₃ (001) substrates. In addition to the structural analysis of these films we performed transport measurements along and perpendicular to the substrate tilt direction and determined the resistivity anisotropy as a function of temperature. The results enable the development of a strategy for the fabrication of Na_xCoO₂ based thermoelectric thin film devices.     

Preparation of epitaxial La0.6Ca0.4Mn1−xFexO3 (x = 0, 0.2) thin films: Variation of the oxygen content

Perovskite thin films with a nominal composition of La_0.6Ca_0.4Mn_1−xFe_xO₃ (x = 0, 0.2) were deposited by pulsed reactive crossed beam laser ablation. The film properties, such as electrical conductivity and magnetoresistance are studied as a function of the oxygen content and substrate type. The oxygen content of the thin films was determined by Rutherford Backscattering and controlled by varying the background gas pressure, pressure of the gas pulse and by using alternatively O₂ and N₂O as the gas pulse.

LaAlO₃ and SrTiO₃ were used as substrates at deposition temperature of 650 °C. The grown films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction in order to optimize the growth conditions, i.e. to obtain epitaxial thin films. Thin films doped with 20% Fe were grown under the same experimental conditions as the undoped LCMO films and the effect of the doping on the structural and transport properties of the thin films has been investigated.

The temperature of the metal–insulator transition was measured as a function of the oxygen content and substrate type.     

Oxynitride perovskite LaTiOxNy thin films deposited by reactive sputtering

This paper reports on the first study of structural and optical properties of reactively RF-sputtered lanthanum titanium oxynitride thin films using an original oxynitride LaTiO₂N target and an argon–nitrogen mixture as reactive plasma. The depositions were carried out by varying the process parameters such as RF power, total pressure, argon and nitrogen rates and substrate temperature. Wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–visible spectroscopy show that titanate lanthanum oxynitride compounds can exist as a domain composition, LaTiO_xN_y. Films prepared in pure argon are oxide films, transparent, amorphous and insulating. Polycrystalline and [001]-textured oxynitride thin films, with different nitrogen contents, can be deposited on SrTiO₃ substrates, depending on the sputtering conditions. As expected, the introduction of nitrogen in the coatings leads to a band gap narrowing. Oxynitrides' thin films are thus coloured and semiconductive.     

Synthesis and physical chemical properties of Ca-substituted LaTiO2N

Oxynitrides with the general formula La_1−xCa_xTiO_2+xN_1−x (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0) were synthesized by thermal ammonolysis of oxide precursors produced with a soft chemistry method. The crystallographic structure, optical properties and the thermal stability of the compounds were studied with X-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy and thermal analysis.

All materials crystallize in perovskite-type pseudo-cubic unit cell. It was found that the lattice parameter decreases with increasing Ca content, while the optical band gap width increases with increasing x. Thermal reoxidation studies of the synthesized materials reveal the formation of nitrogen rich intermediates. The decomposition rate of the intermediates was correlated with the structure of the final products. TEM studies show a preferred insertion direction of the nitrogen into the crystal lattice of the starting oxides. Ammonolysis with flux significantly changed the microstructure of the obtained oxynitrides.     

The application of BTEM to UV-vis and UV-vis CD spectroscopies: the reaction of Rh4(CO)12 with chiral and achiral ligands

Two different organometallic ligand substitution reactions were investigated: (1) an achiral reactive system consisting of Rh₄(CO)₁₂ + PPh₃  Rh₄(CO)₁₁PPh₃ + CO in n-hexane under argon; and (2) a chiral reactive system consisting of Rh₄(CO)₁₂ + (S)-BINAP  Rh₄(CO)₁₀BINAP + 2CO in cyclohexane under argon. These two reactions were run at ultra high dilution. In both multi-component reactive systems the concentrations of all the solutes were less than 40 ppm and many solute concentrations were just 1–10 ppm. In situ spectroscopic measurements were carried out using UV–vis (Ultraviolet–visible) spectroscopy and UV–vis CD spectroscopy on the reactive organometallic systems (1) and (2), respectively. The BTEM algorithm was applied to these spectroscopic data sets. The reconstructed UV–vis pure component spectra of Rh₄(CO)₁₂, Rh₄(CO)₁₁PPh₃ and Rh₄(CO)₁₀BINAP as well as the reconstructed UV–vis CD pure component spectra of Rh₄(CO)₁₀BINAP were successfully obtained from BTEM analyses. All these reconstructed pure component spectra are in good agreement with the experimental reference spectra. The concentration profiles of the present species were obtained by performing a least square fit with mass balance constraints for the reactions (1) and (2). The present results indicate that UV–vis and UV–vis-CD spectroscopies can be successfully combined with an appropriate chemometric technique in order to monitor reactive organometallic systems having UV and Vis chromophores.     

脉冲激光沉积制备SrSn1-xCoxO3外延薄膜的微结构表征及能带调控

钙钛矿结构SrSnO₃因其独特的介电和半导体性质而备受关注,通过掺杂可显著调控其电学、磁学性能,拓宽其应用范围。本研究在单晶SrTiO₃(001)衬底上通过脉冲激光方法外延生长了SrSn_1-xCo_xO₃ (x = 0, 0.16, 0.33, 0.5) (SSCO)薄膜,探究了Co含量对薄膜结晶性、微观结构、光学性能以及介电性能的影响。结果表明, SrSn_1-xCo_xO₃薄膜可在SrTiO₃(001)衬底上外延生长, Co掺杂不会导致薄膜结晶质量的劣化。薄膜表面形貌平整、致密,膜厚200 nm,表面粗糙度为0.44 nm。随薄膜中Co掺杂量增加,薄膜透过率从90%降至25%,光学带隙从4.24 eV降至2.44 eV。介电性能测试表明,掺杂薄膜在10⁶Hz时介电常数为70.1,比无掺杂SrSnO₃薄膜提高57%。室温时SSCO薄膜表面电阻率为172 MΩ,在1000℃范围内薄膜结构稳定。     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of cobalt(II) and iron(II) chloride complexes containing bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligands

Treatment of (2-C₅H₄N)CH_{2 3}N (TPA) with one equivalent of MCl₂ in n-BuOH at elevated temperatures affords the six-coordinate complexes [(TPA)MCl₂] (M = Co (1), Fe (2)) and, in the case of CoCl₂, the five-coordinate chloride salt [(TPA)CoCl]Cl (3). Conversely, addition of an excess of CoCl₂ in the latter reaction leads to [(TPA)CoCl]₂[CoCl₄] (4) as the only isolable product. Interaction of one equivalent of (2-C₅H₄N)CH_{2 2}NH (DPA) and MCl₂ under similar reaction conditions to that described above affords the dimeric species [(fac-DPA)MCl(μ-Cl)]₂ (M = Co (5), Fe (6)), while the bis(ligand) halide salts [(fac-DPA)₂M]Cl₂ (M = Co (7), Fe (8)) are accessible on addition of two equivalents of DPA. In the presence of air, 6 undergoes oxidation to give [ (fac-DPA)FeCl_{2 2}(μ-O)] (9). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies are reported for 1, 2 · MeCN, 3, , 7 · 3MeCN, 8 · 3MeCN and 9.     

Preparation and investigation of structural and photocatalytic properties of phosphate modified titanium dioxide

A series of high surface area titanium dioxide samples (P-TiO₂) with varying phosphate content have been prepared by the sol–gel technique. The structural characterization of the samples included X-ray powder diffraction, diffuse reflectance infrared and UV–vis spectroscopy (DRIFT and UV–vis–DR), and nitrogen adsorption measurements. The structural properties of the P-TiO₂ samples significantly changed with the phosphate content and calcination temperature. According to XRD data the presence of phosphate shifts the anatase rutile phase transition to higher temperatures, revealing that phosphate improves the thermal stability of the samples. The specific surface area and the semiconductor band gap energy increase with the phosphate content.

The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ and P-TiO₂ was studied by phenol degradation in liquid phase. A small amount of phosphate of the catalysts increases the photocatalytic activity, but further increase of the P/Ti molar ratio (above 0.01), leads to a considerable loss in activity. The optimal calcination temperature of P-TiO₂ was 300–500 °C. The phenol conversion rate is highest with catalysts calcined at 700 °C, but phenol does not degrade to carbon dioxide.     

Catalase mimics of a manganese(II) complex: The effect of axial ligands and pH

The mononuclear [Mn(indH)Cl₂](CH₃OH) (indH: 1,3-bis(2′-pyridylimino)-isoindoline) complex has been prepared and characterized by various techniques such as elemental analysis, IR, UV–vis, ESR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The title compound in the presence of a base such as 1-methylimidazole, imidazole or pyridine is efficient catalyst for the disproportionation of H₂O₂ in CH₃CN. Among the various nitrogenous bases investigated in this study imidazole and substituted imidazoles with strong π-donating ability show better co-catalytic effect.

In case of aqueous solution the complex [Mn(indH)Cl₂](CH₃OH) shows much higher catalytic activity, and the initial rate of the disproportionation of H₂O₂ increases with increasing pH and goes through a maximum, which was found at pH  9.6. In this pH value the reaction shows first-order dependence on the catalyst, and saturation kinetics on [H₂O₂] with V_max = 8.1 × 10⁻³ Ms⁻¹, K_M = 489 mM, k_cat = 38 ± 2 s⁻¹ and k₂(k_cat/K_M) = 79 ± 4 M⁻¹s⁻¹.     

Structural and spectroscopic properties of Hexamethylenetetramine cobalt(II) complex: [Co(NCS)2(hmt)2(H2O)2][Co(NCS)2(H2O)4] (H2O)

Synthesis, structure, spectroscopy and thermal properties of complex [Co(NCS)₂(hmt)₂(H₂O)₂][Co(NCS)₂(H₂O)₄] (H₂O) (I), assembled by hexamethylenetetramine and octahedral Co(II) metal ions, are reported. Crystal data for I: F_w 387.34, a=9.020(8), b=12.887(9), c=7.95(1) Å, =96.73(4), β=115.36(5), γ=94.16(4)°, V=820(1) Å³, Z=2, space group=P−1, T=173 K, λ(Mo-K)=0.71070 Å, ρ_calc=1.718567 g cm⁻³, μ=17.44 cm⁻¹, R=0.088, R_w=0.148. An interesting two-dimensional network is assembled via hydrogen bonds through coordinated and free water molecules. The d–d transition energy levels of Co(II) ion are determined by UV–vis spectroscopy and calculated by ligand field theory. The calculated results agree well with experiment ones.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of lithium derivatives of diphosphanes R2P–P(SiMe3)Li · 3L, R = Ph, Pr and Pr2N, L = THF or DME

The reactions of R₂P–P(SiMe₃)₂ (R = Ph, ⁱPr and ⁱPr₂N) with BuLi in THF or DME solution lead to ion-contacted lithium derivatives R₂P–P(SiMe₃)Li · 3THF (R = ⁱPr, ⁱPr₂N) with tetrahedrally surrounded Li atoms and to the solvent-separated ionic [Li · 3DME]⁺[Ph₂P–PSiMe₃]⁻ with an octahedrally surrounded Li atom as confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The reaction of BuLi with Ph₂P–P(SiMe₃)₂ is accompanied with a significant side-reaction leading to Ph₂P–PPh₂ and to LiP(SiMe₃)₂.     

Luminescent properties of carbon-rich starburst gold(I) acetylide complexes. Crystal structure of [TEE][Au(PCy3)]4 ([TEE]H4=tetraethynylethene)

Two carbon-rich starburst gold(I) acetylide complexes [TEE][Au(PCy₃)]₄ (3, [TEE]H₄=tetraethynylethene) and [TEB][Au(PCy₃)]₃ (6, [TEB]H₃=1,3,5-triethynylbenzene) were prepared and their UV–vis absorption, emission and excitation spectra have been recorded. In fluid CH₂Cl₂ solutions, 3 exhibits prompt ¹(ππ*) fluorescence with λ_0–0 and λ_max at 413 and 428 nm, respectively, while 6 displays ³(ππ*) phosphorescence with λ_0–0 and λ_max at 446 and 479 nm, respectively. The crystal structure of 3·CH₂Cl₂ has been determined.     

Synthesis and characterisation of Hf(thd)2X2 derivatives [X = N(SiMe3)2, OSiMe3 and OSiBuMe2] as precursors for MOCVD of hafnium silicate films

Hafnium β-diketonatochlorides HfCl₂(thd)₂ (1), HfCl(thd)₃ (2) as well as β-diketonato-silylamide and/or siloxide derivatives of 1 namely Hf(thd)₂[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ (3), Hf(thd)₂(OSiMe₃)₂ (4) and Hf(thd)₂(OSi^tBuMe₂)₂ (5) (thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and TGA. 2 and 5 were also characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The siloxide ligands are in cis position for 5 and exert a strong trans effect. The new volatile compounds were tested as single-source precursors for the deposition of HfSi_xO_y films by pulsed liquid injection MOCVD on Si(1 0 0) and R plane sapphire. The as-deposited at 600–800 °C films were essentially amorphous, Hf-rich (Hf/Hf + Si = 0.7–0.85) and smooth.     

Synthesis and low temperature fluorination of the alkaline-earth palladates Ba2−xSrxPdO3 (x = 0–2)

Since the discovery of superconductivity in Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ there has been an increased interest in ternary oxide-fluorides. Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ is prepared via low temperature (T = 220 °C) reaction routes. Low temperature fluorination induces an interesting structural rearrangement in the parent compound Sr₂CuO₃, which is a one-dimensional material containing linear chains of vertex sharing CuO₄ squares along the crystallographic b axis. Upon fluorination, one oxide is substituted by two fluorides and Cu²⁺ becomes octahedrally coordinated by four oxides and two fluorides. The fluorinated compound Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ displays the T-type structure (La₂CuO₄). Insertion of excess fluorine, δ, also takes place and this fluorine occupies interstitial sites in the T structure. Although the starting material Ca₂CuO₃ is isostructural to Sr₂CuO₃, Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ displays the T′ (Nd₂CuO₄) structure due to the smaller radius of Ca²⁺ compared to that of Sr²⁺.

The alkaline-earth palladates with the general formula A₂PdO₃ (A = Ba, Sr) are isostructural with the A₂CuO₃(A = Ca, Sr) materials. We prepared the Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₃ (x = 0–2) series and performed low temperature fluorination, which led to the synthesis of the series Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₂F_2+δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5). All the compounds in the Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₂F_2+δ series show T′ structure (Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ). Similarities and differences with Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ and Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ will be discussed.     

Synthesis, structure and properties of delocalized transition metal chelates: Diazoketiminato chelates of Co(III) and Pt(II)

The reactions of HL 1 [where HL is 1N-(2-pyridyl-2-methyl)-2-arylazoaniline and is formulated as ArN = NC₆H₄N(H)(CH₂C₅H₄N); Ar = C₆H₅ (for HL¹) or p-MeC₆H₄ (for HL²) or p-ClC₆H₄ (for HL³)] with K₂PtCl₄ and Co(ClO₄)₃ · 6H₂O afforded the (L)PtCl and [(L)₂Co]ClO₄ complexes, respectively. The HL ligands bind the platinum(II) and cobalt(III) centres in a tridentate (N,N,N) fashion, forming new diazoketiminato chelates upon dissociating the amino proton. The X-ray structures of (L³)PtCl and [(L³)₂Co]ClO₄ were determined. Redox properties of the new complexes have been examined.     

Large heteropolymetalate complexes formed from lanthanide (Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd), nickel cations and cryptate [As4W40O140]: synthesis and structure characterization

A new family of heteropolytungstate complexes (NH₄)₂₁[Ln(H₂O)₅{Ni(H₂O)}₂As₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]·xH₂O(Ln=Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd) were prepared by the reaction of Na₂₇[NaAs₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]·60H₂O with NiCl₂·6H₂O and Ln(NO₃)₃·xH₂O at pH≈4.5. The crystal structures of (NH₄)₂₁[Gd(H₂O)₅{Ni(H₂O)}₂As₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]·51H₂O was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and element analysis. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a=19.754(3), b=24.298(4), c=39.350(6) Å, β=100.612(3)°, V=18564(5) ų, Z=2, R1(wR₂)=0.0544(0.0691). The central site S1 and two opposite sites S2 of the big cyclic ligand [As₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]²⁸⁻ are occupied by one Ln³⁺and two Ni²⁺, respectively, each site supply four O_d coordinating to metal ion, another one water molecule and other five water molecules coordinate, respectively, to Ni²⁺and Ln³⁺. Polyanion [Ln(H₂O)₅{Ni(H₂O)}₂As₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]²¹⁻ has C_2v symmetry. IR and UV–vis spectra of [NaAs₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]²⁷⁻ of the title compounds are discussed.     

An investigation on the solid state pyrolytic decomposition of bimetallic oxalate precursors of Ca, Sr and Ba with cobalt: A mechanistic approach

The mixed metal oxalate precursors, calcium(II)bis(oxalato)cobaltate(II)hydrate (COC), strontium(II)bis(oxalato)cobaltate(II)pentahydrate (SOC) and barium(II)bis(oxalato)cobaltate(II)octahydrate (BOC) have been synthesized and their thermal stability was investigated. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectral and X-ray powder diffraction studies. Thermal decomposition studies (TG, DTG and DTA) in air showed that the compound COC decomposed mainly to CaC₂O₄ and Co₃O₄ at 340 °C, and a mixture of CaCO₃ and Co₃O₄ identified at 510 °C. A mixture of CaCO₃ and Ca₃Co₂O₆ along with the oxides and carbides of both the cobalt and calcium were attributed at 1000 °C as end products. DSC study in nitrogen ascertained the formation of a mixture of CaO and CoO along with a trace of carbon at 550 °C. The mixture species, SrC₂O₄, CoC₂O₄ and Co₃O₄ were generated at 255 °C in case of SOC in air, which ultimately changed to CoSrO₃, SrCO₃ and oxides of strontium and cobalt at 1000 °C. The several mixture species also generated as intermediate at 332 and 532 °C. The DSC study in nitrogen indicated the formation of CoSrO_x (0.5 < x < 1) as end product. In case of BOC in air, a mixture of BaCoO₂, BaO, CoO and carbides are identified as end product at 1000 °C through the generation of several intermediate species at 350 and 530 °C. A mixture of BaO and CoO is identified as end product in DSC study in nitrogen. The kinetic parameters have been evaluated for all the dehydration and decomposition steps of all the three compounds using four non-mechanistic equations. Using seven mechanistic equations, the kind of dominance of kinetic control mechanism of the dehydration and decomposition steps are also inferred. The kinetic parameters, ΔH and ΔS of all the steps are explored from the DSC studies. Some of the decomposition products are identified by IR and X-ray powder diffraction studies.     

NEXAFS study of a Pt-containing rod-like organometallic polymer (Pt-DEBP): molecular orientation onto HOPG, Au/Si(1 1 1), Cr/Si(1 1 1) and Si(1 1 1) surfaces

The influence of different substrates on the molecular orientation of organometallic polymer Pt-DEBP, [Pt(PBu₃)₂CCC₁₂H₈CC]_n, has been investigated by NEXAFS spectroscopy. Thin films were deposited on HOPG, Au/Si(1 1 1), Cr/Si(1 1 1), Si(1 1 1) and stainless steel. The assignment of the spectral features has been carried out on the basis of previous STEX calculations performed on phenylacetylene model molecule in gas phase and adsorbed on Pt(1 1 1) and Cu(1 0 0). Angular dependent analysis of the π* resonance occurring at 285.50 eV photon energy deriving by the benzene carbon orbitals showed a polarisation effect for all substrates. A preferential molecular orientation at nearly 40° to the surface normal was observed. This result might be explained by the strong interaction between sp and sp² carbons of the organic diethynylbiphenyl DEBP moiety contained in close chains, leading to polymer self-assembling.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermal investigation of M[M(C2O4)3]·xH2O (x=4 for M=Cr(III); x=2 for M=Sb(III) and x=9 for M=La(III))

The complexes, M[M(C₂O₄)₃]·xH₂ O, where x=4 for M=Cr(III), x=2 for M=Sb(III) and x=9 for M=La(III) have been synthesized and their thermal stability was investigated. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectral data, conductivity measurement and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The chromium(III)tris(oxalato)chromate(III)tetrahydrate (COT), Cr[Cr(C₂ O₄)₃]·4H₂O, released water in a stepwise fashion. Removal of the last trace of water was accompanied by a partial decomposition of the oxalate group. Thermal investigation using TG, DTG and DTA techniques in air produced Cr₂O₃ at 858°C through the intermediate formation of Cr₂O₃ and CrC₂O₄ at around 460°C. While DSC study in nitrogen up to 670°C produced a mixture of Cr₂O₃ and CrC₂O₄. In antimony(III)tris(oxalato)antimonate(III)dihydrate (AOD), Sb[Sb(C₂O₄)₃]·3H₂O the dehydration took place during the decomposition of precursor at 170–290°C and finally at ca. 610°C Sb₂ O₅ along with trace amounts of Sb₂O₄ were produced. Trace amount of Sb₂O₃ and Sb along with Sb₂O is proposed as the end product at 670°C of AOD in nitrogen. The oxide La₂O₃ is formed at 838°C from the study with TG, DTG and DTA in air of lanthanum(III)tris(oxalato)lanthanum(III)nonahydrate (LON), La[La(C₂O₄)₃]·9H₂O. Intermediate dioxycarbonate, La₂O₂CO₃ was generated at 526°C prior to its decomposition to lanthanum oxide in air; whereas in N₂ the formation of La₂(CO₃)₃ at 651°C was proposed. The thermal parameters have been evaluated for each step of the dehydration and decomposition of COT, AOD and LON using five non-mechanistic equations i.e. Flynn and Wall, Freeman and Carroll, Modified Freeman and Carroll, Coats–Redfern and MacCallum–Tanner equations. Kinetic parameters, such as, E^*, k_o, ΔH^*, ΔS^* etc. were also supplemented by DSC studies in nitrogen for all the three complexes. Some of the intermediate species have been identified by analytical and powder XRD studies. Tentative schemes has been proposed for the decomposition of all three compounds in air and nitrogen.