{"id":1040392,"date":"2024-12-11T18:03:05","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T10:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vimaterial.de\/?p=1040392"},"modified":"2026-07-16T14:39:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T06:39:06","slug":"a-wonderful-element-germanium-metal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vimaterial.de\/en\/a-wonderful-element-germanium-metal\/","title":{"rendered":"A wonderful element\u2014\u2014Germanium (Ge)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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What is germanium metal?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Germanium (Ge)<\/a><\/span> is a critical metalloid widely used in semiconductors, infrared optics, fiber-optic communication, and high-efficiency solar cells. Owing to its unique electrical and optical properties, germanium has become one of the world’s most important critical raw materials for advanced technologies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Is germanium more like a metal or nonmetal\uff1f<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Physical properties<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGermanium possesses a unique combination of electrical, thermal, and optical properties that make it an important semiconductor material for electronics, infrared optics, and photovoltaic applications. Its key physical properties are summarized below.\n\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Property<\/th>\nValue<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Chemical Symbol<\/td>\nGe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Atomic Number<\/td>\n32<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Element Category<\/td>\nMetalloid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Appearance<\/td>\nSilver-grey metallic solid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Atomic Weight<\/td>\n72.63 g\/mol<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Density (20\u00b0C)<\/td>\n5.323 g\/cm\u00b3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Melting Point<\/td>\n938.25\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boiling Point<\/td>\n2,833\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crystal Structure<\/td>\nDiamond Cubic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mohs Hardness<\/td>\n6.0\u20136.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Electrical Resistivity (20\u00b0C)<\/td>\nApproximately 0.46 \u03a9\u00b7m (Intrinsic Germanium)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thermal Conductivity (20\u00b0C)<\/td>\n60.2 W\u00b7m\u207b\u00b9\u00b7K\u207b\u00b9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Band Gap (300 K)<\/td>\n0.66 eV<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Chemical properties<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Chemical Property<\/th>\nValue<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Oxidation States<\/td>\n+2, +4 (+4 is the most stable)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n
Electronegativity (Pauling)<\/td>\n2.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n
Common Oxides<\/td>\nGeO\u2082 (most common), GeO<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n
Chemical Stability<\/td>\nStable in dry air and water at room temperature<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n
Oxidation Behavior<\/td>\nRapidly oxidizes above 600\u2013700\u00b0C to form GeO\u2082<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n
Reactivity<\/td>\nReacts with halogens and alkali metals to form various germanium compounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n
Alloy & Compound Formation<\/td>\nForms alloys, semiconductor compounds, and organogermanium compounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Semi-metallic properties<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Because of these special properties of germanium, it is often classified as a semi-metallic element. Semi-metallic elements are located in the transition zone between metals and non-metals, and have the common properties of metals and non-metals. Germanium is such an element. It has some properties of metals, such as metallic luster and conductivity, and also exhibits some properties of non-metals, such as low conductivity and easy formation of compounds.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Where Does Germanium Come From? Sources and Supply Chain<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With an average abundance of only around 1.6 ppm in the Earth’s crust<\/strong>, this element is considered one of the rare and dispersed metals. Due to its low concentration and uneven distribution, it rarely forms independent mineral deposits and is typically recovered as a by-product from other resources.<\/p>

The main sources of supply include:<\/p>

1. Zinc and Lead-Zinc Ores<\/strong><\/p>

The majority of primary production comes from zinc ore processing. During zinc smelting and refining, the element becomes concentrated in materials such as flue dust, leaching residues, and processing by-products, from which high-purity material can be extracted.<\/p>

2. Germanium-Bearing Coal and Coal Fly Ash<\/strong><\/p>

Some coal deposits contain trace amounts of this valuable element. During coal combustion, it can become enriched in coal fly ash, where concentrations may be significantly higher than in the original coal. These residues represent an important potential secondary resource for recovery.<\/p>

3. Recycling of Germanium-Containing Materials<\/strong><\/p>

As demand for advanced electronics and optical technologies continues to grow, recycling has become an increasingly important source. Waste generated during the manufacturing of the following products can be processed as valuable secondary resources. These recyclable sources are often referred to as “urban mines.”<\/p>