What are the military, high tech applications of germanium?

When the Russian chemist Mendeleev arranged the periodic table, the element in position 32 had not yet been discovered, and he predicted the properties of this element that had not yet been discovered according to the periodic law and called it "silicon". Fifteen years later, in 1885, the German chemist Venkrier discovered this element by spectroscopic analysis, and the determined elemental properties were exactly the same as the "silicon" predicted by Mens, which was germanium. Germanium dioxide was produced in Germany in 1930, and industrial-scale production began in the United States in 1941.

The Russian chemist Mendeleev arranged the periodic table when the element in the first position had not yet been discovered, and he predicted the properties of this element that had not yet been discovered according to the periodic law and called it "silicon". A few years later, that is, in 1885, the German chemist Vinkelier discovered this element by spectroscopic analysis, and the determined elemental properties were exactly the same as the "silicon" predicted by Mens, which was germanium. Germanium dioxide was produced in Germany in 1930, and industrial-scale production began in the United States in 1941.

Pure germanium is a light silvery-gray metal. The position of germanium in the periodic table is exactly between metals and non-metals, so although it is a metal, it has many non-metallic properties and is often referred to as "semi-metal" in chemistry. In terms of the ability to conduct electricity, it is superior to general non-metals, and inferior to general metals.

Mainly in the manufacture of some electronic equipment.

In the military, germanium is mainly used to manufacture portable infrared imaging systems for individual soldiers, and infrared thermal imaging cameras used in tanks, ships, aircraft and other platforms. In addition, germanium is also inseparable from the infrared imaging seeker, infrared tracking system, and reconnaissance and surveillance system installed on some missiles.

The refractive index of elemental germanium is very high, and it is only transparent to infrared light, and opaque to visible light and ultraviolet light, so military observers such as infrared night vision devices use pure germanium to make lenses. Germanium infrared optics are mainly used as optical materials for lenses, prisms, windows, filters, etc. in infrared optical systems.

Gallium is used in the manufacture of various electronic components, the manufacture of optoelectronic devices, etc. Germanium is used as a semiconductor material and in the manufacture of laser equipment.

First, the use of gallium.

1. Manufacture all kinds of electronic components.

As a semiconductor material, gallium is used in the manufacture of various electronic components, such as diodes, field-effect transistors, and solar cells.

2. Manufacture of optoelectronic devices.

Gallium can also be used in the manufacture of optoelectronic devices such as lasers, LEDs, and photoelectric sensors. These devices are widely used in both modern electronics and communication technology.

Second, the use of germanium.

1. As a semiconductor material.

Germanium has become an important semiconductor material, and has a wide range of important applications in semiconductors, aerospace measurement and control, nuclear physical detection, optical fiber communication, infrared optics, solar cells, chemical catalysts, biomedicine and other fields.

2. Manufacture of Zen light-containing equipment.

Germanium can be used to make laser light sources, which can be used for measurement, inspection, laser imaging, etc.

Introduction to the characteristics of germanium

1. Germanium has semiconductors.

Germanium plays an important role in the development of solid-state physics and solid-state electronics, such as electron mobility, hole mobility, and many more. The development of germanium still has a lot of potential. The germanium produced in modern industry mainly comes from the by-products of copper, lead and zinc smelting.

Germanium may be classified as a dispersed metal, germanium is chemically stable, does not interact with air or water vapor at room temperature, but at 600 to 700, germanium dioxide is quickly formed.

2. Germanium does not work with hydrochloric acid and dilute sulfuric acid.

When concentrated sulfuric acid is heated, germanium dissolves slowly. In nitric acid and aqua regia, germanium is easily dissolved. The alkali solution has a weak effect on germanium, but the molten alkali is in the air, which can make germanium dissolve quickly. Germanium does not work with carbon, so it melts in a graphite crucible and is not contaminated with carbon.

The above content reference: Encyclopedia - germanium.

The above content reference: Encyclopedia - gallium.

The role of gallium and germanium is mainly in the electronics industry, optoelectronic industry, chemical industry, and so on.

1. Electronics industry.

Gallium and germanium are important components of semiconductor materials and are used to make transistors and other electronic components. If export controls are imposed on these elements, the electronics industry may face the problem of chain disruption and rising costs.

2. Optoelectronic industry.

Gallium and germanium are also widely used in optoelectronic pants such as solar cells, infrared cameras and lasers. Export controls may limit the development and technological innovation of the optoelectronic industry.

3. Chemical industry.

Gallium and germanium act as catalysts in chemical reactions and can be used to produce organic compounds. Export controls may have an impact on the chemical industry involved, leading to shortages of raw materials and rising production costs.

Introduction to gallium metal

Gallium can corrode steel, iron, aluminum, antimony, copper, etc. Because the melting point of gallium is very low, it becomes liquid at 30 degrees Celsius, and the liquid gallium can be alloyed with other metals, which can corrode metals, and gallium cannot be placed in metal containers. Gallium is a grayish-blue or silvery-white metal with the symbol GA, atomic weight.

The melting point of gallium Husen Heng is very low and the boiling point is very high. Pure liquid gallium has a significant tendency to be supercooled, and it is easy to oxidize in the air to form an oxide film.

As the concentration of gallium in the earth's crust is very low. in the earth's crust. It is widely distributed, but does not exist in the pure metal state, but in the form of sulfate-gallium-copper ore (Cugas2), although it is scarce and economically unimportant.

Gallium is a by-product of industrial processing of sphalerite, pyrite, bauxite, germanium.

The above content reference: Encyclopedia - gallium.

Gallium germanium is widely used in semiconductor materials, semiconductor light-emitting elements, integrated circuits, transistors, 5G and defense communication RF devices, CIGS thin-film solar cells and other fields.

Because gallium compounds are more resistant to heat and humidity than silicon, have better electrical conductivity, and are less noisy, they can find better applications in radar and radio communication equipment, satellites, and LEDs. Currently, there are no effective alternatives to gallium arsenide and gallium nitride in some specialized applications.

Germanium is mainly used in infrared optics, optical fiber communication, solar cells, catalysts and other industries, and is an important raw material in the fields of military industry, national defense, and high-tech. In infrared optics, germanium can be used to make night vision devices as well as satellite image sensors; In terms of fiber optic communications, germanium can make fiber optic amplifiers; In terms of solar cells, germanium can make high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells; In terms of catalysts, germanium can be used to make PET catalysts.

Gallium resource distribution:

The amount of gallium in the earth's crust is. The distribution of gallium in nature is relatively scattered, mostly in associated ores, mainly in bauxite, and a small amount in tin ore, tungsten ore and lead-zinc ore. The global reserves of gallium in bauxite exceed 1 million tons, and there are still certain reserves of gallium resources in zinc ore.

Although bauxite and zinc ore contain relatively large gallium resources, there are very few gallium resources that can be exploited from them.

China, Germany and Ukraine are the top three crude gallium producers in the world, along with Hungary, South Korea and Russia. In 2012, Kazakhstan was also a major producer of crude gallium, but in 2013 the country did not produce crude gallium. China, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Slovakia are the main producers of fine gallium.

The uses of gallium and germanium are as follows:

First, the use of germanium

1. Semiconductor industry: germanium is a key material for the manufacture of high-speed integrated circuits and solar cells.

2. Optical industry: germanium can be used to manufacture infrared optical systems and infrared detectors.

3. Chemical industry: germanium can be used to make catalysts and special glass.

4. Nuclear industry: germanium can be used to make control rods for nuclear reactors.

Second, the use of gallium

1. Semiconductor industry: gallium is an important material for the manufacture of high-speed electronic devices and optoelectronic devices, which is widely used in computers, communication equipment and displays.

2. Optoelectronic industry: gallium can be used to manufacture optoelectronic devices such as lasers, LEDs and solar cells.

3. Medical industry: gallium can be used to manufacture medical equipment and medical optics.

4. Other industries: gallium can also be used to make alloys, coatings and catalysts.

Production and processing methods

First, the production and processing methods of germanium

1. Extraction: Germanium is mainly extracted from germanium ore, and commonly used extraction methods include melt lead rot, wet and gas phase methods.

2. Refining: The extracted germanium needs to go through a refining process to improve purity and remove impurities.

3. Preparation: The refined germanium can be prepared into the desired shape and size by melting, solution and gas phase.

Second, the production and processing method of gallium

1. Extraction: Gallium is mainly extracted from gallium ore, and commonly used extraction methods include wet and gas phase methods.

2. Refining: The extracted gallium needs to go through a refining process to improve purity and remove impurities.

3. Preparation of Huai Huai: The refined gallium can be prepared into the required shape and size by melting, solution and gas phase.

The above content reference: Encyclopedia - gallium.

The above content reference: Encyclopedia - germanium.