What is Ge wafer?

Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It is a lustrous, hard-brittle, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon group, chemically similar to its group neighbors silicon and tin. Pure germanium is a semiconductor with an appearance similar to elemental silicon.

The Notable Properties of  Germanium

Ge glass is its high index of refraction and its low optical dispersion. 
These make it especially useful for wide-angle camera lenses, microscopy, and the core part of optical fibers.It has replaced titania as the dopant for silica fiber, eliminating the subsequent heat treatment that made the fibers brittle. 
 

Appplication of IR Ge wafers

Optical Ge wafers are elemental and popular semiconductor material , due to its excellent crystallographic properties and unique electric properties , Ge wafer is widly used in Sensor , Solar cell and Infrared optics applications .

Coating of Optical Germanium window

Germanium Windows are available with three anti-reflection coating options, 3 - 5μm for mid-infrared applications, 3 - 12μm for broadband multispectral applications, and 8 - 12μm for thermal imaging applications.

Picture of AR Coating Germanium Wafer

Specifications of optical germanium windows

Video display of IR Ge wafers

People also ask

• What is the difference between silicon wafer and germanium wafer?
  Silicons can withstand up to 150 degrees Celsius or roughly 300 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, germanium wafers are prone to breakage or melting at 70 degrees Celsius or 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Silicon processors are ideal for computers because of their heat resistance.

• Why germanium is not used instead of silicon?
  Silicon is preferred over Germanium because silicon can work at a higher temperature in comparison to germanium. 
   
• What is the difference between a wafer and a substrate?
  Substrate is a solid (usually planar) substance onto which a layer of another substance is applied, and to which that second substance adheres.

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