Is Germanium Used In Solar Panels

No germanium is not used in solar cells.

Is germanium used in solar panels.

Germanium is a rare semi metal and is used in semiconductors catalysis and optical apparatuses. It is also used in airport screening and other applications to detect sources of radiation. It is also used in thermal imaging applications for military and fire fighting use. Germanium was originally the semiconductor material most used.

But silicon is more abundant than germanium. It is also used in the core of optical fiber cables. 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. 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.

Germanium is also used to make solar panels that help convert sunlight into energy and for fiber optics. Fiber optics are thin strands of glass that are bundled together and used to send signals. As an intrinsic semiconductor however germanium also is a powerful ingredient in highly efficient but expensive solar panels. It can be used in solar panels.

In fact the mars exploration rovers contain germanium in their solar cells.