19 Germanium Tetrachloride Uses : Facts You Should Know!

Germanium tetrachloride is a chemical compound with the formula GeCl₄. GeCl₄ is a colorless liquid with an acidic odor. Let us discuss various uses of GeCl₄ in this article.

The different uses of Germanium tetrachloride given below in list form are

• Intermediate in the process of forming purified germanium dioxide and germanium metal.
• Fiber optic production
• Infrared
• Semiconductor
• Electronics
• Alloying agent
• Catalyst

Intermediate in the process of forming purified germanium dioxide and germanium metal

• Germanium tetrachloride is used as an intermediate in the production of purified germanium dioxide and germanium metal. GeCl₄ is obtained from sphalerite zinc ore and some copper ore is allowed to pass through chlorination and distillation process, which leads to the formation of germanium tetrachloride (GeCl₄) which further gives germanium dioxide is formed (GeO₂) and high-purity germanium metal.

Fiber optic production                                                      

• Derivative of Germanium etrachloride, germanium dioxide (GeO₂) has a high index of refraction and low optical dispersion so used as a camera lens, microscopy and for the core of a fiber optic lens. 
• When silicon tetrachloride and Germanium tetrachloride are heated with oxygen in hollow glass, perform undergoes oxidation and leads to the formation of oxides and glass mixture. 
• The index of refraction of optical fiber can be controlled by doing variation in the GeCl₄.

Infrared

• Germanium tetrachloride has military uses. Germanium and germanium dioxide, which are glass oxide of germanium, are transparent to the infrared spectrum.
• Infrared windows and lenses are manufactured from glass which is used for night- vision technology, especially in the military and luxury vehicles.
• GeO₂ is strong than other IR transparent glasses, so preferred over it for uses in the military.  

Semiconductor

• Germanium tetrachloride has important applications in industry as germanium has inherent semiconductor behavior, so used as a semiconductor in transistors.
• Germanium tetrachloride gas has future growth potential and is used in thin film technologies such as SiGe chips, Ge-base semiconductors and many other electronic applications.

Electronics

• Ge- based LED, Ge as a replacement for Silicon on chips, and so many such implementations are done. 
• Efforts are being made to replace GaAs with SiGe in wireless telecommunication. 
• It is doped with other elements such as As, Sb, Ga, and P and is used in high-power and high-frequency electronics. 

Alloying agent

• As years passed, germanium’s uses as a metal alloy increased. 
• It combines with other metal to form an alloy and improve the metallurgy process, and increases property of different metals.
• In sterling silver alloy, it reduces fire scale and increases the tarnish resistance, thus increasing response to precipitation hardening.
• The alloy silicon germanide SiGe is a semiconductor and is used in high-speed integrated circuits. Circuits with Si-SiGe junction work faster than those Silicon alone.

Catalyst

• Germanium tetrachloride is used as a catalyst in the converter of carbohydrates into 5- hydroxymethylfurfural in ionic liquid. 
• In this conversion, germanium tetrachloride is used as a reducing agent, where it is used in combination with triphenylphosphate (TPP). 
• Here reduction of alpha–bromine carboxylic acid takes place, giving pure germanium. 

Conclusion

Germanium tetrachloride consists of a germanium and four chlorine atom. Germanium tetrachloride has other names as Germanium (IV) chloride. It is soluble in water. Germanium tetrachloride melt at -49.5⁰C and has a boiling point of 86.5⁰C. Germanium tetrachloride is tetrahedral in shape.