Is Germanium Used In Solar Panels

Germanium was originally the semiconductor material most used.

Is germanium used in solar panels.

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. In fact the mars exploration rovers contain germanium in their solar cells. Germanium is also used to make solar panels that help convert sunlight into energy and for fiber optics. Germanium is combined with oxygen for use in camera lenses and microscopy.

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

But silicon is more abundant than germanium. It is also used in the core of optical fiber cables. It has a higher melting temperature for wider processing range a wider temperature range of operation and you get the added bonus of natural growth of silicon dioxide. No germanium is not used in solar cells.

It is also used in airport screening and other applications to detect sources of radiation.