Nickel and copper nitrate complexes with 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) as a N donor and nitrate and water as oxygen donor ligands of the general formula [M(NO3)(C10H8N2)(H2O)(3)](NO3). where M = Ni and Cu, have been obtained from the corresponding metal nitrate salts. These complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, Fr-IR, and CHN analysis. Both the complexes have been found to be six coordinated. Their thermal decomposition behaviour was investigated by TG, DTA, and ignition delay measurements. TG-DTA examinations of these complexes revealed multistep thermal decomposition. The corresponding metal oxide residues obtained after thermolysis were identified from their X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD). Kinetics of isothermal decomposition of the complexes was established from both the model-fitting as well as isoconversional methods. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.