Transmetalation of aqueous inorganic clusters: A useful route to the synthesis of heterometallic aluminum and indium hydroxo-aquo clusters

Abstract

[AlxIny(μ3-OH)6(μ-OH) 18(H2O)24](NO3)15 hydroxy-aquo clusters (AlxIn13-x) are synthesized through the evaporation of stoichiometrically varied solutions of Al13 and In(NO3)3 using a transmetalation reaction. Several spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR, 1H-diffusion ordered spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and Raman) are used to compare Al xIn13-x to its Al13 counterpart. A thin film of aluminum indium oxide was prepared from an Al7In6 cluster ink, showing its utility as a precursor for materials. © 2014 American Chemical Society.