(Acetylacetonato)dicarbonylrhodium(I)

Rh(CO)₂(acac) appears as a yellow to orange crystalline solid. It is soluble in various organic solvents such as benzene, toluene, and acetone, which makes it convenient for both solution-based synthesis and vapor-phase processing techniques. It is commonly used as a precursor for the deposition of rhodium-containing thin films and nanomaterials. Its ability to decompose cleanly under controlled conditions makes it suitable for processes like chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD), enabling the fabrication of conductive coatings, catalytic layers, and electronic materials. Additionally, it serves as a molecular precursor for synthesizing rhodium nanoparticles, which are employed in applications such as fuel cell catalysts, hydrogen evolution reactions, and nanoelectronics.

Employed in in situ formation of a fluorous-soluble hydroformylation catalyst of interest in molecular engineering.

Rh(CO)₂(acac) can be used:

• As a precursor for the synthesis of rhodium nanosheets which are used in catalysis which are utilized as a support for bimetallic PtRh nanoparticles, significantly enhancing their catalytic activity in oxidation reactions.
• As a catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) to produce the environmentally friendly plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)hexahydrophthalate (DEHHP).
• As a precursor for the synthesis of single-atom rhodium catalysts which are used in electrocatalytic reactions, such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
• As a molecular precursor for synthesis of rhodium nanoclusters on oxide surfaces, such as Al₂O₃/Ni₃Al(111) via physical vapor deposition (PVD) (5)