Electrodes for electrolytic germane process

The invention relates to the electrolysis of aqueous electrolyte solutions containing GeO2; hydroxide and water with metal alloy electrodes, such as, copper or tin rich alloy electrodes with alloying elements such as Sn, Pb, Zn, Cu etc, to generate Germane (GeH4). Cu-rich alloy electrodes have been...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors MACHADO REINALDO MARIO, JAMBUNATHAN KRISHNAKUMAR, RAGSDALE DANIEL JAMES, BERGER KERRY RENARD
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 29.01.2013
Subjects
APPARATUS THEREFOR
CHEMISTRY
ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES
ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTIONOF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS
FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS
METALLURGY
PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
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Summary:The invention relates to the electrolysis of aqueous electrolyte solutions containing GeO2; hydroxide and water with metal alloy electrodes, such as, copper or tin rich alloy electrodes with alloying elements such as Sn, Pb, Zn, Cu etc, to generate Germane (GeH4). Cu-rich alloy electrodes have been demonstrated to increase the GeH4 current efficiency by almost 20% compared to Cu metal electrodes. Germanium deposition has been found to be either absent or minimal by using Cu-rich alloy electrodes. Several different methods for maintaining the cell performance or restoring the cell performance after a reduction in current efficiency over time, have been identified. A titration-based method for the analysis of the electrolyte, to obtain the concentration of GeO2 and the concentration of hydroxide has also been disclosed.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20100874503