Photodegradation of thin films of polygermanes

Abstract Upon ultraviolet irradiation of thin films of linear polygermanes in air, the germanium-germanium bond in thin films of polygermanes changed into digermoxane chains. The laser flash photolysis of the linear polygermane films showed the formation of polygermyl radicals generated by germanium-germanium bond homolysis as reactiev intermediated during photodegradation.