Glow discharge polymerization of tetramethylgermanium

Abstract

AbstractA glow discharge polymerization technique was applied in the preparation of germanium‐containing polymers. The colorless and transparent polymer films formed from tetramethylgermanium (TMG) were investigated by elemental analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and ESCA. The reaction of TMG was accompanied by the rupture of bonds between Ge and CH3 groups which led to mixtures of polymers that consisted of CH3, CH2, GeCH3, GeOC, and GeOGe groups and germanium metal. Most Ge species present at the outermost layers of the films were oxidized subsequently by air, whereas the Ge species at the inner layers still existed as Ge metal. This film‐forming process can be explained by the concept of atomic polymerization proposed by Yasuda.See H. Yasuda, J. Polym. Sci. Macromol. Rev., 16, 199 (1981).