Germanium Oxide (GeO₂): Precursor For Germanium Ingots, Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ Crystals, and Optical Glass Production

Germanium dioxide (GeO₂), the dioxide of germanium, shares the same electron configuration as CO₂. It appears as white powder or colorless crystals, existing in hexagonal, tetragonal, or amorphous forms:

• Hexagonal: Density 4.228, melting point (1115±4)°C.
• Tetragonal: Density 6.239, melting point (1086±5)°C.
  Insoluble in water/HCl; soluble in alkalis to form germanates.

Applications

1. Production of germanium ingots and organogermanium compounds.
2. Raw material for bismuth germanate (Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂) crystals.
3. Catalyst manufacturing.
4. Phosphor materials.
5. Germanium-based optical glasses.

Product Series

Health and Safety Information

Signal Word	Warning
Hazard Statements	H302-H332
Hazard Codes	Xn
Precautionary Statements	P261-P264-P270-P301+P310-P501
Flash Point	N/A
Risk Codes	22
Safety Statements	N/A
RTECS Number	LY5240000
Transport Information	NONH
WGK Germany	1
GHS Pictograms

Packaging Specifications

• Standard packaging: 50 kg/drum, 500 kg/pallet, ton bags
• Sample packaging: 500 g/bag, 1 kg/bottle

About Germanium Dioxide

Germanium dioxide has insoluble and soluble variants. The former is colorless tetragonal prism crystals with melting point 1115±4°C, relative density 6.23925, and refractive index 1.99. It is insoluble in water, acids, and alkaline solutions, only fusing with 10 times the amount of NaOH at 550°C. The latter is colorless hexagonal rhombohedral crystals with melting point 1115±4°C, relative density 4.22825, and refractive index 1.695. It is readily soluble in water, acids, and alkalis. The transition temperature between the two variants is 1033°C. The transformation between crystal forms is very slow; there is also a colorless transparent glassy form obtained by rapid cooling of molten germanium dioxide. The hexagonal crystals and glassy form can dissolve in hydrochloric acid to form germanium tetrachloride, and in hydrofluoric acid to form hexafluorogermanic acid; the tetragonal crystals are chemically inert and only soluble in excess molten alkali and molten sodium carbonate.

For the germanium tetrachloride hydrolysis method: add 6.5 times the volume of distilled water to germanium tetrachloride, stir and let stand for one day and night to form germanium dioxide precipitate, wash with cold water until the washing liquid contains no Cl-, then dry at 200°C to obtain the germanium dioxide product. The reaction is GeCl4 + 2H2O → GeO2 + 4HCl.