Is Germanium Used In Solar Panels

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.

Is germanium used in solar panels.

It can be used in solar panels. It is also used in the core of optical fiber cables. Germanium is also used to make solar panels that help convert sunlight into energy and for fiber optics. Germanium was originally the semiconductor material most used.

In fact the mars exploration rovers contain germanium in their solar cells. It is also used in thermal imaging applications for military and fire fighting use. No germanium is not used in solar cells. As an intrinsic semiconductor however germanium also is a powerful ingredient in highly efficient but expensive solar panels.

But silicon is more abundant than germanium. 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 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 airport screening and other applications to detect sources of radiation.

Fiber optics are thin strands of glass that are bundled together and used to send signals.