“…In order to circumvent these problems, following our previous works on homologous first-row transition metal complexes [30,31,[41][42][43][44][45], we have focused on the preparation and characterization of Ni(II) β-diketonate-diamine compounds of the general formula NiL 2 TMEDA [HL = 1,1,1,-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedionate (tfa), 2,2-dimethyl-6,6,7,7,8,8,8heptafluoro-3,5-octanedionate (fod), or thd; TMEDA = N,N,N ′ ,N ′ -tetramethylethylenediamine]. The results of a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation [46,47] highlighted that these compounds offer several amenable characteristics as CVD precursors of NiO films with modular properties. Insights into the compound reactivity were previously obtained by electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS) [46], typically considered more appropriate for the investigation of CVD precursor gas-phase reactivity, especially in plasma-assisted processes [46].…”