What Are Germanium Crystals?
Germanium is an elemental, nonmetallic, grayish white solid that is dispersed throughout the Earth's crust. It was discovered in 1886 by chemist Clemens Winkler in Germany. It's primarily found in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Africa and Russia, and is recovered from residues from refining zinc and coal. Forms of germanium include crystals, powder and ingots. It's similar to silicon and has been traditionally used in electronics. Worldwide, about 80 metric tons are used per year.
Other People Are Reading
-
Properties of Germanium
-
Germanium is a good semiconductor. Germanium is an intrinsic semiconductor, has an exceptionally high refractive index, and is transparent to part of the infrared spectrum. Germanium doesn't exist in its elemental form, it's a byproduct. It's melted into bars, then refined into pure crystals by the Czochralski method. Individual crystals are grown slowly under controlled conditions and often doped with another metal, such as copper, to produce the desired properties. The crystal structure is covalently bonded and is identical to that of diamonds. Single crystals are then sliced into wafers or shaped for optical use.
History of Germanium Crystals
-
Germanium is used in fiber optics Germanium was first used during World War II in solid state transistors in radar devices and night vision glasses. In the 1960s, single crystals of doped germanium were were used in gamma and X-ray detectors. Up until the 1970s, it was widely used in electronics, but has been replaced by silicon, a far more abundant and less expensive element that fits the current manufacturing processes. In the 1980s, fiber optics were developed using germanium because of its ability to form glass.
-
Modern Uses
-
As of 2011, 50 percent of germanium use is in fiber optics. Germanium oxide has been discovered to be a polymerization catalyst, and 25 percent is used in the manufacturing of clear, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and nonyellowing textile fiber. Another 15 percent is used in infrared devices, 5 percent in electronics and solar panels, and the remaining 5 percent in other uses.
Germanium and Health
-
In 1945, Dr. Kazuhiko Asai of Japan discovered germanium as a byproduct of coal refining. He learned of its properties and found that plants with high germanium levels were able to resist bacteria. His extensive research showed that organic germanium compounds enrich the body's oxygen supply, support the immune system and regulate blood cholesterol. Germanium crystals are also believed by some to draw energy into the body when worn as necklaces or bracelets.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
