2025/09/30 by Eden Goodwin, Jordan N. Bentley, Maram Bakiro +8 · 1 voice
Chemistry · Materials Science · #Context (archaeology) #Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Applications #Molecule #N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry #Nitrogen #Small molecule #Steric effects #Stoichiometry #Synthesis and properties of polymers #Thermal #Thermal decomposition #Volatility (finance)
paper · doi:10.1116/6.0004886
openalex publication_date 2025/09/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
The thermal properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are of interest as these species are attracting attention for use as small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) in area-selective atomic layer deposition. Free carbenes are known to be generated from the thermolysis of their bicarbonate salts along with one stoichiometric equivalent of water and carbon dioxide byproduct. The liberated NHC volatilizes into the gas phase during heating and is delivered to a surface. Thermal analysis of 19 different NHC derivatives demonstrates the influence of the steric bulk of substituents at nitrogen on the activation temperature and volatility of NHCs. Increasing molecular weight leads to decreased volatility, while increasing the steric bulk of the N-alkyl substituents affects precursor activation temperatures. The thermal window measured for these NHC derivatives makes them readily amenable to vapor deposition processes. The data underscore that NHCs are versatile and stable species with significant potential applications in surface modification and as next-generation SMIs.