Single-crystal germanium
Properties
Chemical symbol: Ge
Name: Single-crystal germanium
CAS No.: 7440-56-4
Molar mass: 72.63 g/mol
Density: 5.32 g/cm³
Melting point: approx. 938 °C
Purity: up to 99.999999% (8N)
Crystal structure: diamond-type
Refractive index: approx. 4.0 in the 2-14 µm range
Available forms: single-crystal ingots, lens blanks, polished wafers and optical windows
Single-crystal germanium is a highly refined form of the semiconductor element germanium in which the entire material consists of a continuous diamond-type crystal lattice. Depending on the application, it is supplied as cylindrical single-crystal ingots, lens blanks, highly polished wafers or optical windows.
The absence of grain boundaries provides a high degree of uniformity in the physical, optical and electrical properties throughout the material. Single-crystal germanium can achieve very low dislocation densities and purity levels of up to 99.999999% (8N), making it particularly suitable for demanding optical, electronic and detector applications.
Its electrical properties can be adjusted through controlled doping. Arsenic can be used for n-type material, while boron, gallium or indium can be used for p-type germanium. This makes it possible to tailor the electrical resistivity to specific device requirements.
One of the key characteristics of single-crystal germanium is its high refractive index of approximately 4.0 in the wavelength range from 2 to 14 µm, combined with low optical dispersion. These properties enable compact and precise infrared optical systems with relatively low lens curvature.
Single-crystal germanium is also used as a substrate for epitaxial growth of complex III-V semiconductor structures. Its lattice compatibility makes it suitable for multijunction photovoltaic structures and other advanced semiconductor applications.
Production is mainly based on the Czochralski process, in which a single crystal is pulled from a high-purity germanium melt under a protective atmosphere. This method enables controlled crystal growth and consistent material properties throughout the ingot.
Germanium metal is particularly important in infrared optics, space photovoltaics, radiation detection, microelectronics and optoelectronics. Would you like to buy germanium? Auremo can provide information about available purity levels, product forms and technical specifications. The germanium price, germanium metal price and germanium price per kg depend on purity, dimensions, processing level and material requirements.
Advantages
• Grain-boundary-free crystal structure with high material uniformity
• Purity up to 8N for advanced applications
• Very low dislocation density
• High refractive index in the infrared range
• Low optical dispersion
• Electrical properties can be tailored through controlled doping
• Suitable as a substrate for III-V epitaxial structures
• High charge-carrier mobility for sensitive electronic and detector systems
Applications
• Precision infrared optics
• Lenses and windows for thermal imaging cameras
• Night-vision systems and pyrometers
• Substrates for III-V multijunction solar cells
• Space photovoltaic systems
• High-purity germanium detectors (HPGe)
• High-resolution gamma spectroscopy
• Nuclear and radiation detection technology
• High-frequency transistors
• Near-infrared photodetectors
• Integrated photonic circuits
• Microelectronics and optoelectronics
Auremo offers single-crystal germanium and other high-purity materials for industrial and advanced technical applications. If you have any questions about purity, doping type, dimensions, product form or delivery conditions, please contact us directly.
