Radiolysis of binary systems containing germanium and carbon hydrides

Radiolysis of the mixtures GeH4/C2H6 and GeH4/C3H8 have been studied. The decomposition of the parent molecules leads to solid and volatile products. The decomposition of GeH4, according to the composition of the mixtures, is 1.7-2.5 times larger than in pure GeH4. Also the hydrocarbons decompose 1.6-3.4 times more than in systems containing the pure reactants. The formation of the solid, a polymer containing Ge, C and H, has been attributed to a polymerization process initiated by the germylene-like species, while the gaseous products seem to derive from germyl-like species. The radical mechanism seems to prevail on the ionic. (author)