Germanium
Semimetal used in fiber optics, infrared optics, and high-speed electronics; strategically important with constrained supply.
Properties
Germanium (Ge): Confirmation of Genius
Like gallium, germanium was first predicted. In 1871, Dmitri Mendeleev reserved a box in his table for 'eka‑silicon', describing its properties with uncanny precision. In 1886—eleven years after gallium—German chemist Clemens Winkler isolated the new element from a rare ore, naming it germanium after his country (Germania). Its discovery, perfectly aligned with Mendeleev's predictions, cemented the credibility of the periodic table. Adopted as the semiconductor of choice in post‑war electronics (before silicon surpassed it), germanium remains vital today for fiber optics, high‑efficiency solar cells and night‑vision systems.
Key Applications
Market Data
Germanium (Ge): The Key to Infrared and Fiber Optics
Germanium is a semiconductor that excels where others fail; its transparency and optical properties make it irreplaceable for managing light and heat.
Strategic Applications: High‑bandwidth fiber for the global internet, infrared optics for night‑vision and thermal cameras (defense and security), ultra‑efficient solar cells.
Industrial Interest: A sovereignty asset for technology and defense; vital to global communications infrastructure and surveillance/defense technologies.
Risks & Substitutes
Limited (byproduct) supply and exposure to export quotas/controls.
Substitutes: ZnSe/ZnS for some IR optics; silicon alternatives in photonics (not far‑IR).
Dependence on defense/telecom segments; geopolitical sensitivity.