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What are the main uses of germanium?
The largest use of germanium is in the semiconductor industry. When doped with small amounts of arsenic, gallium, indium, antimony or phosphorus, germanium is used to make transistors for use in electronic devices. Germanium is also used to create alloys and as a phosphor in fluorescent lamps.
Is germanium used in phones?
Despite its failure as a transistor in the 1950s, germanium is now used in tandem with silicon in transistor components for some cell phones and wireless devices. SiGe transistors have greater switching speeds and use less power than silicon-based technology.
When was germanium first used?
1886
Germanium was discovered by Clemens A. Winkler at Freiberg, Germany, in 1886….
| Discovery date | 1886 |
|---|---|
| Allotropes | α-Ge, ß-Ge |
Where is germanium found in the world?
Germanium is primarily mined with zinc ore as well as with argyrodite, germanite, and coal according to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. According to Chemistry Explained, germanium is mined in Alaska, Tennessee, China, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Russia and Belgium.
How is germanium used in everyday life?
In addition to its applications in electronic devices, germanium is used as a component of alloys and in phosphors for fluorescent lamps. Because germanium is transparent to infrared radiation, it is employed in equipment used for detecting and measuring such radiation, such as windows and lenses.
Who produces germanium?
China
Where is Germanium Produced? The major worldwide producer of germanium is China; it is responsible for around 60% of total production. It is estimated that 60% of this is produced from zinc ores and 40% from coal fly ash. The remaining production of germanium comes from Canada, Finland, Russia and the United States.
Why is antimony used in batteries?
Initial studies revealed that antimony could be suitable for rechargeable lithium and sodium ion batteries because it is able to store both kinds of ions. The full lithiation or sodiation of antimony leads to large volumetric changes.
Why is germanium used in thermal imaging?
Germanium has the highest refractive index of commonly available IR-transmitters and has low optical dispersion. Typical applications for Germanium include thermal imaging where the material can be used as a front optic while its index of refraction makes Germanium useful for wide-angle lenses and microscopes.
What is germanium used for in everyday life?
Germanium Uses. One of the most common uses for germanium used to be in making electronic devices, such as televisions and radios. Germanium was useful for this purpose because it’s a semi-conductor, which means that it lets electricity pass through it more than some elements, but not as much as most metals.
Does germanium help you see in the dark?
So germanium actually helps you see in the dark! Another useful property of germanium is that it has a high index of refraction. This means that if light goes through a lens coated with germanium, the light will pass almost straight through without being bent.
What is germanium (Ge)?
Germanium, chemical symbol Ge, is the 32 element on the periodic table with an atomic mass of 72.63. It is a hard gray-white substance that is found in zinc, silver, lead and copper ores. A German chemist called Clemens Winkler discovered the element in 1886 and named it after Germany.
What is germanium used in semiconductor materials?
Germanium is used as a semiconductor material. It is commonly used, together with silicon, in high speed integrated circuits for improved performance. There is some work being done to replace silicon with germanium in miniaturized chips.