Synthesis, structural characterization and thermochemical reactivity of tris(ethylenediamine)zinc tetracyanozincate, a precursor for nanoscale ZnO

The binuclear complex tris(ethylenediamine)zinc tetracyanozincate was prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. It consists of distorted [Zn(en)3]2+ octahedra and [Zn(CN)4]2− tetrahedra. The thermolysis under air was studied by thermogravimetry, and the resulting product (ZnO) was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, showing compact particles with a diameter of 100–300 nm.