Synthesis, Characterization and Electron Beam Assisted Decomposition of (NO₂)[Au(NO₃)₄]

Abstract

Yellow single crystals of (NO2)[Au(NO3)4] (monoclinic, P21/n, Z = 2, a = 775.1(2) pm, b = 810.2(2) pm, c = 898.7(2) pm, β = 112.67(3)°, wR2 = 0.0622) were obtained from the reaction of elemental gold with N2O5. In the crystal structure complex [Au(NO3)4]− ions are present with the Au3+ ions being in square planar coordination of four oxygen atoms of just as many monodentate nitrate groups. Charge compensation is achieved by linear NO2+ ions. (NO2)[Au(NO3)4] decomposes between 363 and 423 K in a complex process yielding elemental gold. Solutions of (NO2)[Au(NO3)4] in N2O5 were used to build contamination free structures of elemental gold onto a silica surface by electron beam initiated decomposition of the compound.