Is Germanium Used In Solar Panels

It is also used in thermal imaging applications for military and fire fighting use.

Is germanium used in solar panels.

Scientists at the united states national renewable energy laboratory nrel and the korea advanced institute of science and technology have demonstrated a method of producing gallium arsenide. As an intrinsic semiconductor however germanium also is a powerful ingredient in highly efficient but expensive solar panels. Germanium is combined with oxygen for use in camera lenses and microscopy. In fact the mars exploration rovers contain germanium in their solar cells.

But silicon is more abundant than germanium. Germanium is also used to make solar panels that help convert sunlight into energy and for fiber optics. Germanium substrates are used to form the base layer in multijunction solar cells which are the highest efficiency solar cells currently available according to the usgs. It is also used in the core of optical fiber cables.

No germanium is not used in solar cells. Germanium was originally the semiconductor material most used. Fiber optics are thin strands of glass that are bundled together and used to send signals. Germanium is a rare semi metal and is used in semiconductors catalysis and optical apparatuses.

Due to heightened interest in renewable energy sources the production of solar panels has increased in the production of solar panels germanium is doped to a silicon compound so as to change the energy gap matéo vélez et al 2012.