5 Gallium Hydride Uses: Facts You Should Know!

Gallium hydride, with the chemical formula GaH₃, is a metal hydride of group 13 that generally exists as a dimer. Let us study the various uses of this inorganic compound in detail.

Gallium hydride uses are listed below:

• As a precursor in material sciences.
• Synthesis of GaN (gallium nitride).
• Hydrogenation of CO₂ .
• Synthesis of nanoparticles.

As a precursor in material sciences

Gallium hydride has great importance in materials science as a molecular precursor.

• GaH₃ is used in techniques like chemical vapor deposition and solution-based methodologies to synthesize thin metal films.
• GaH₃ is used for the production of various solid-state materials.

Synthesis of GaN(Gallium nitride)

GaH₃ is used as a gallium source and is reacted with NH₃ (ammonia gas) to give GaN crystals on the sapphire substrate that can produce up to a 2.7 µm-thick GaN film, and this has proved to be an inexpensive method to grow GaN crystals with a high level of purity.

Hydrogenation of CO₂

Gallium hydride has proven to be a key element in the hydrogenation reaction of CO₂ (carbon dioxide). It acts as a catalyst for transforming CO₂ into methanol.

CO₂ + H₂ → CH₃OH + H₂O

Synthesis of nanoparticles

Gallium hydride reacts with a transition metal salt to form a transition metal gallium hydride compound. This metal gallium hydride compound decomposes to give nanoparticles.

Conclusion

GaH₃, also known as gallane, is a photosensitive colorless gas that dimerizes to form Ga₂H₆(digallane). The oxidation state of Ga in GaH₃ is +3 and the geometry of GaH₃ is trigonal planar.