Synthesis, characterization and thermostability of tris(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato)yttrium(III)

The metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technique is a promising process for high temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-d (YBCO) preparation. In this technique, the purity, evaporation characteristics and thermostability of adopted precursors will decide the quality and reproducible results of YBCO film. In the present report, tris(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato)yttrium(III) (Y(TMHD)3) was synthesized by the interaction of yttrium nitrate hydrate with TMHD in methanol solution, and its structure was identified by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and EI-MS spectroscopy. Subsequently, the thermal property and the kinetics of decomposition were systematically investigated by non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis methods (TGA) at different heating rates in streams of N2, and the average apparent activation energy of evaporation process was evaluated by the Ozawa, Kissinger and Friedman methods. The possible conversion function was estimated through the Coats-Redfern method to characterize the evaporation patterns and followed a phase boundary reaction mechanism by the contracting area equation with average activation energy of 88.9 kJ/mol.