Laboratory investigations on the infrared absorptions of germanium-bearing molecules - Directing the identification of organo-germanium molecules in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn

Germanium-bearing molecules of the formula Ge2Hx (x = 2-6) are plausible candidates for organometallic molecules present in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. Combining low-temperature spectroscopy with computed vibrational spectra of these molecules, we have observed strong fundamentals of seven germanium-bearing molecules GeH3 ( germyl radical), Ge2H6 (digermane), Ge2H5 (digermyl radical), H2GeGeH2 (digermene), HGeGeH3 (digermanylidene), HGeGeH2 (digermenyl radical), and GeH2Ge (di-mu-hydrodigermanium) via infrared spectroscopy in the laboratory. These bands were confirmed in D4-germane matrices. Our data can guide the search for hydrogen-deficient germanium-carrying molecules in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, where the germane (GeH4) precursor molecule is present.