A Comparative Analysis of Catalysts for the Preparation of Germanium through Hydrogen Reduction of Germanium Tetrachloride

Abstract

We have synthesized catalysts for the hydrogen reduction of germanium tetrachloride: a catalyst based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and a hybrid catalyst based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes whose surface was decorated with copper-containing nanoparticles. The hybrid catalyst has been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that it consists of multiwalled carbon nanotubes whose surface is decorated with copper nanoparticles in a cuprous oxide shell (Cu₂O/Cu/MWCNTs). The catalytic activity of the hybrid catalyst exceeds that of the as-prepared MWCNTs. The use of the Cu₂O/Cu/MWCNT hybrid catalyst as a catalyst for the hydrogen reduction of germanium tetrachloride allows the reaction temperature to be lowered and ensures 95.7% germanium tetrachloride conversion at 873 K.