Methods are disclosed of making linear and cross-linked, HMW (high molecular weight) polysilanes and polygermanes, polyperhydrosilanes and polyperhydrogermanes, functional liquids containing the same, and methods of using the liquids in a range of desirable applications. The 
silane and 
germane polymers are generally composed of chains of Si and / or Ge substituted with R′ substituents, where each instance of R′ is, for example, independently 
hydrogen, 
halogen, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydrocarbyl, aromatic hydrocarbyl, heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbyl, SiR″3, GeR″3, PR″2, OR″, NR″2, or SR″; where each instance of R″ is independently 
hydrogen or hydrocarbyl. The cross-linked polymers can be synthesized by dehalogenative 
coupling or dehydrocoupling. The linear polymers can be synthesized by ring-opening 
polymerization. The polymers can be further modified by 
halogenation and / or reaction with the source of 
hydride to furnish perhydrosilane and perhydrogermane polymers, which are used in liquid ink formulations. The synthesis allows for tuning of the liquid properties (e.g., 
viscosity, volatility, and 
surface tension). The liquids can be used for deposition of films and bodies by spincoating, inkjetting, dropcasting, etc., with or without the use of UV 
irradiation. The deposited films can be converted into amorphous and 
polycrystalline silicon or 
germanium, and 
silicon or 
germanium oxide or 
nitride by curing at 400-600 DEG C. and (optionally) 
laser- or heat-induced 
crystallization (and / or 
dopant activation, when 
dopant is present).