The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 17, 2022
Filed:
Dec. 28, 2019
GE Solartech, Llc, Troy, MI (US);
Baoquan Huang, Troy, MI (US);
Henry Lee, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Ge Solartech, LLC, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
High-yield synthesis of higher germanes and higher silanes includes the hydrolysis of a germanium- or silicon-containing alloy with chemical formula ABGe(Si), wherein A=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and rare earth metals; B=Al, Si, Sn, Ga, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag; x=0-10, y=0-10. The hydrolysis reaction is promoted by an acidic substance such as boron oxide (BO), citric acid, hydrochloric acid (HCl), or sulfuric acid (HSO). The present invention provides an efficient method of drying higher germanes and higher silanes to prevent their further hydrolysis. Another synthetic process involves the reaction of germanium oxide, borohydride and boron oxide with water. Still another process comprises hydrolyzing the SiGealloy with a very dilute base solution. The methods enable production of higher germanes from a wide range of germanium-starting materials, including germanium byproducts, impure germanium compounds, and waste products generated in the plasma deposition of thin films containing germanium.