Homonuclear tris-dithiocarbamato ruthenium(III) complexes as single-molecule precursors for the synthesis of ruthenium(III) sulfide nanoparticles.

Tris(N-phenyldithiocarbamato) ruthenium(III) complexes, [Ru(L1)3] (1); tris(N-(4-methylphenyl)dithiocarbamato)) ruthenium(III), [Ru(L2)3] (2); and tris(N-(4-methoxyphenyl)dithiocarbamato)) ruthenium(III), [Ru(L3)3] (3) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, UV–VIS and NMR spectroscopy. TGA analyses show major degradation of all complexes in the range 120–350°C, leading to the formation of residual weight corresponding to ruthenium (III) sulfides. The1H-NMR spectra of the ligands and complexes are in agreement with the proposed structures. FTIR studies confirmed that the ligands coordinate the Ru3+ion in a bidentate chelating mode. The complexes were thermolysed at 180°C to prepare hexadecylamine-capped Ru2S3nanoparticles. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the formation of hexagonal-phase Ru2S3nanoparticles with average crystallite sizes ranging from 8.3 to 9.5 nm. TEM images showed the crystalline clusters with shapes ranging from square to hexagonal, while SEM images elucidated that the particles were agglomerated. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectra confirmed the presents of Ru2S3nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]