Homoleptic trimethylsilylchalcogenolato zincates [Zn(ESiMe3)3]− and stannanides [Sn(ESiMe3)3]− (E = S, Se): precursors in solution-based low-temperature binary metal chalcogenide and Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) synthesis

Abstract

Organic cation salts with homoleptic zincate and stannanide anions, Ph₄P [Zn(ESiMe₃)₃] (E = S (1a), Se (1b)) and Cat [Sn(ESiMe₃)₃] (Cat = Ph₄P⁺ (E = S (2a-Ph₄P); Cat = PPN⁺ (E = S 2a-Ph₄P, Se (2a)) are presented and structurally characterized. Efforts to isolate neutral thermally metastable stannane precursors [Sn(ESiMe₃)₄] (E = S (3), Se(4)) are reported as well. The thermal decomposition of the presented precursors to yield binary sulfides and selenides of zinc and tin is investigated. Furthermore, the potential of using the title anions as precursors in solution-based low-temperature synthesis of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) by coprecipitation with [Cu(tmtu)₃]PF₆ and subsequent annealing is discussed.