GermaniumI wrote this text about possible germanium usages in the future more than 3 years ago, the technology has moved more forward, but the summary could still be interesting reading for some new Germanium bugs.
Companies like IBM, Intel, Samsung, NXP and Umicore are all lined up to take part of future germanium supply.
Modern transistors
The first transistor was made of Germanium, but was for cost reason, and with help of new technology quite soon replaced by silicon based transistors in most applications.
Now I believe it’s time for Germanium to have its revenge. Mores law says that it should be possible to double the number of transistors on a certain area every 18: th month. To make this possible in the future (i.e. with 45 nm technology and smaller) you need materials with high dielectric constant (K). There’s two suitable materials out there Germanium and Hafnium and both are very rare and will be used to revolutionize modern computers. MOI-chips based on hafnium or germanium result in lower power dissipation in the transistors, so it’s not only a step to make computers faster it will also reduce the power consumption. Computers are generating far too much heat today and modern materials like germanium and hafnium will reduce this waste.
The scientist at the University of Augsburg has done calculations on what elements we are running out of I the near future. The world will probably run out of Hafnium by 2017, so by then there’s only Germanium and possibly Zirconium left to revolutionize the transistor technology. Unless the nanotechnology will bring some new technology out of the closet.
https://www.mrc.iastate.edu/research.htm Phase Change memories (PCM)
Will probably replace flash memories (everyone got at least a dozen of them).
Based on two rare elements Germanium and tellurium.
https://www.semiconductor.net/article/CA6513334.html Solar cells
Umicore are developing very efficient solar cells. I believe these solar cells together with concentrator technique have a very bright future.
https://www.umicore.com/en/features/cleanTechnologies/cleanTechnologies.htm
https://www.umadvancedmaterials.com/ LED:s (Light Emitting Diodes)
Umicore are also manufacturing high power LEDs.
You can find more information about Germanium based technology at the UMICORE homepage and in the annual reports.
RadioFrequncy-chips
NXP are just rolling out their new SIGeC based HBT for microwave applications up to 30 GHz. The SIGeC technology will probably replace GaAs in a lot of applications.
Argentium
Argentium silver corp are planning to take a large part of the sterling market, in a few years they might need as much as 20 % of the current WW germanium production. The market for tarnish proof sterling got to be gigantic.
Check out their homepage:
https://www.argentiumsilver.com/ Modern Communication technology
Our society demands more, faster and more reliable technology. Here is optical communication the solution. It’s not only the fastest way it’s also the most reliable way to communicate fast.
One example:
In modern cars we will use more Optical based communication buses like MOST. It’s the fastest communication bus and its also completely insensitive to Electro Magnetic Compatibility issues which is important when we are moving to hybrid and electrical cars and results in more failsafe and lighter cars.
I I take no responsibility for any errors, bad conclusions, and important facts missing in the summary above. Do your own due diligence.