Germanium Ge
Ge, elemental germanium, diamond-cubic crystal structure (Fd3m)
Germanium is the element Ge, a semiconductor with a band gap of 0.66 eV at 300 K (EE Semi).
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Pass infrared light
1.8 to 23 µm
Bend light
4.0026
Act as a semiconductor
0.66 eV
Carry heat
58.62 W/(m·K)
Recipe, share of the weight
- Ge 100%Germanium
Best for
Infrared optics from 1.8 to 23 µm (thermal-imaging lenses, ATR prisms) and substrates for triple-junction space solar cells
Weakest at
Temperature limit and supply: Crystran says germanium becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K, and the USGS says supply runs through a few producers, China the leading one
Risk at a glance
- People Low. Some reports flag reproductive and organ toxicity; the SDS…
- If it fails High. Loss of transmission at high temperature
- Corrosion Moderate. At red heat germanium reacts with oxygen in air to form germanium dioxide.
Quick facts: Ge
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 5.33 g/cm³ | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Young's modulus | 103 GPa | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal conductivity | 58.6 W/(m·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 5.8 to 6.1 ppm/K | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Melting point | 936 to 937 °C | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Specific heat | 310 J/(kg·K) | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of Germanium?
Germanium has a density of 5.33 g/cm³. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the thermal conductivity of Germanium?
Germanium has a thermal conductivity of 58.6 W/(m·K). The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Germanium?
Germanium has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 5.8 to 6.1 ppm/K. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the melting point of Germanium?
Germanium has a melting point of 936 to 937 °C. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the Young's modulus of Germanium?
Germanium has a Young's modulus of 103 GPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is Germanium used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Infrared lenses and windows for thermal imaging; ATR prisms for infrared spectroscopy; Optical fibre glass.
Why it exists
Germanium combines a high refractive index with transmission from 1.8 to 23 µm and a 0.66 eV band gap, which suits infrared optics and space-cell substrates. The USGS says the United States relies on imports for more than half of the germanium it consumes.
Where it's used
Infrared optics
Lenses and windows for thermal imaging across the 8 to 14 micron band, and ATR prisms for spectroscopy (Crystran).
Fibre optics and space solar cells
The USGS lists fibre optics first among US end uses of germanium, ahead of infrared optics and semiconductors. Triple-junction space solar cells from Spectrolab and Emcore use germanium substrates.
Recipe
Ge, elemental germanium, diamond-cubic crystal structure (Fd3m)
Germanium is the element Ge (PubChem). Crystran says a small number of manufacturers in Belgium, the USA, China and Russia grow germanium by the Czochralski technique. The USGS says germanium is recovered from zinc concentrates, through a refinery that produces the dioxide and tetrachloride, and that its resources are associated with zinc and lead-zinc-copper sulfide ores and lignite coal deposits.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Germanium Ge | 100% | Element. Grown as a single crystal for optics and wafers, and supplied as germanium metal and germanium dioxide for other uses. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Pass infrared light
1.8 to 23 µm
measured
Crystran gives the transmission range as 1.8 to 23 µm.
Bend light
4.0026
measured
The refractive index is 4.0026 at 11 µm, high enough for a natural 50% beamsplitter without coatings (Crystran).
Act as a semiconductor
0.66 eV
measured
The band gap at 300 K is 0.66 eV (EE Semi), narrower than silicon's in the same table.
Carry heat
58.62 W/(m·K)
measured
Thermal conductivity is 58.62 W/(m·K) at 293 K (Crystran).
How it compares
Against silicon in the same EE Semi table at 300 K, germanium has a narrower band gap, a higher electron drift mobility, and a density more than twice silicon's. Its melting point is also lower than silicon's in that table. Germanium also becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K (Crystran), a limit that the sources read here do not give for silicon.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | Ge | Si | SiGe | As | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | |||||
| Melting point (semiconductor table)Value printed in a materials property table | 937 °C | 1415 °C | no data | 817 °C | 2075 °C |
| Melting point (optics data) | 936 °C2 | 1415 °C | no data | 817 °C | 2075 °C |
| Thermal conductivity | 58.62 W/(m·K)6 | 150 W/(m·K) | no data | 50 W m-1 K-1 | 27 W/(m·K) |
| Specific heat capacity | 310 J/(kg·K)9 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Physical and electrical | |||||
| DensityValue printed in a materials property table | 5.327 g/cm³ | 2.328 g/cm³ | 4.31 g/cm³ | 5727 kg/m3 | 2.35 g/cm³ |
| Density (optics data) | 5.33 g/cc1 | 2.328 g/cm³ | 4.31 g/cm³ | 5727 kg/m3 | 2.35 g/cm³ |
| Intrinsic resistivityValue printed in a materials property table | 47 Ω·cm | 2.3×10^5 Ω·cm | no data | no data | no data |
| Other measurements | |||||
| Energy band gap at 300 KValue printed in a materials property table | 0.66 eV | 1.12 eV | no data | no data | no data |
| Dielectric constant at 300 K | 16 -3 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Dielectric constant at microwave frequency | 16.6 -4 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Electron drift mobilityValue printed in a materials property table | 3900 cm²/(V·s) | 1500 cm²/(V·s) | no data | no data | no data |
| Hole drift mobilityValue printed in a materials property table | 1900 cm²/(V·s) | 475 cm²/(V·s) | no data | no data | no data |
| Electron affinityValue printed in a materials property table | 4 V | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Lattice constant | 5.646 Å5 | 0.5431 nm | no data | 376 pm | no data |
| Linear thermal expansion (table at 300 K) | 5.8 ppm/K7 | no data | no data | no data | 6 ppm/K |
| Linear thermal expansion (optics data) | 6.1 ppm/K8 | no data | no data | no data | 6 ppm/K |
| Young's modulus | 102.7 GPa10 | no data | no data | 8 GPa | 428 GPa |
| Shear modulus | 67 GPa11 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Bulk modulus | 77.2 GPa12 | no data | no data | 22 GPa | 320 GPa |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.28 -13 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Refractive index in the thermal infrared | 4.003 -14 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Transmission range | 1.8 µm15 | no data | no data | no data | no data |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Thermal imaging optics: a lens or window material across the 8 to 14 micron thermal band.
- Triple-junction space solar cells: germanium is the substrate under the GaInP2/GaAs/Ge stack, with a 26.8% minimum average beginning-of-life efficiency for the Spectrolab cell.
Watch out for
- Temperature: germanium becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K.
- Supply: the USGS puts China as the leading producer, with exports to the United States banned since December 2024.
- Thermal conductivity is far below the metals, so germanium does not spread heat well.
Germanium is well documented for infrared optics and space-cell substrates. Its density, melting point, band gap and dielectric constant are printed in more than one source, and its infrared transmission range and refractive index come from a product data page that cites the handbook. Its weak points are the 350 K opacity limit and a supply chain the USGS describes as concentrated in China. Acid and alkali corrosion, solubility numbers and an occupational exposure limit were not found in this run.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density (optics data) | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | temperature not stated on the page | — |
| 2 | Melting point (optics data) | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | basis melting point as printed, no pressure or purity stated | — |
| 3 | Dielectric constant at 300 K | Value printed in a materials property table (no unit printed) | temperature 300 K (table title) | — |
| 4 | Dielectric constant at microwave frequency | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | frequency 9.37 GHztemperature 300 K | — |
| 5 | Lattice constant | Value printed in a materials property table, in angstroms as printed | temperature 300 K (table title) | — |
| 6 | Thermal conductivity | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | temperature 293 K | — |
| 7 | Linear thermal expansion (table at 300 K) | Value printed as 5.8 x 10 -6 (1/deg C) in a materials property table; the number is the same in ppm/K, so no scaling is needed | temperature 300 K (table title)unit in source 5.8 x 10 -6 per deg C | — |
| 8 | Linear thermal expansion (optics data) | Value printed as 6.1 x 10-6/°C on a manufacturer product data page; the number is the same in ppm/K, so no scaling is needed | temperature 298 Kunit in source 6.1 x 10-6/°C | — |
| 9 | Specific heat capacity | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | temperature not stated on the page | — |
| 10 | Young's modulus | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | temperature not stated on the page | — |
| 11 | Shear modulus | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | temperature not stated on the page | — |
| 12 | Bulk modulus | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | temperature not stated on the page | — |
| 13 | Poisson's ratio | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | temperature not stated on the page | — |
| 14 | Refractive index in the thermal infrared | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page (references Palik and Li 1980) | wavelength 11 µmtemperature not stated on the page | — |
| 15 | Transmission range | Value printed on a manufacturer product data page | basis range as printed on the product data page (footnote 1, Palik handbook) | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Ambient air at room temperature | low | A very thin layer of germanium dioxide protects the surface of germanium.1 |
| Water | low | The oxide layer makes germanium more or less inert to water.2 |
| Oxygen at red heat | moderate | At red heat germanium reacts with oxygen in air to form germanium dioxide.3 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ambient air at room temperature | WebElements says the surface of lumps of germanium is protected by a very thin layer of germanium dioxide, GeO2, and that germanium is more reactive than silicon, but not by much. No thickness is given. | basis Rating is the assistant's reading of a protective oxide, not a printed rating |
| 2 | Water | WebElements says the oxide layer renders germanium more or less inert to water. Crystran lists germanium as insoluble in water (Solubility row), but no solubility number was read. | basis Rating is the assistant's reading of the wording, not a printed rating |
| 3 | Oxygen at red heat | WebElements says that at red heat, germanium reacts with oxygen in air to form germanium dioxide. Temperature and rate are not given. | basis Rating is the assistant's reading; no rate or temperature number was read |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
PubChem's aggregate for germanium mixes 186 'not classified' reports with notifications that carry H361 and H373, each at 27.3%. Check the supplier SDS before handling.
- Aggregate hazard codes
- PubChem's ECHA-based aggregate lists H228 (13.5%), H361 (27.3%), H373 (27.3%) and H412 (27%) across 319 company reports. No exposure limit was found, so none is given.
If it fails
Failure routes found in the sources are about temperature and supply.
- Heat
- Crystran says germanium becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K, so warm optics lose their use.
- Supply
- The USGS reports that US imports of germanium metal fell 67% in 2025, after China's ban on exports to the United States.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Loss of transmission at high temperaturehigh severity | Operation a little above 350 KCrystran says germanium becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K, as the band gap floods with thermal electrons. Its refractive index also changes rapidly with temperature. |
| Supply interruptionhigh severity | China's export licensing (August 2023) and its ban on exports to the United States (December 2024)USGS reports that US imports of germanium metal fell by 67% in 2025 to an estimated 7,000 kg, and that US net import reliance was above 50% in every year from 2021 to 2025e. |
Handling and storage
- Keep germanium optics below about 350 K. Above that the material becomes opaque at all wavelengths (Crystran).
- PubChem's GHS entry is an aggregate of company reports, so check the supplier SDS for the form handled (powder, wafer or lens).
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Germanium metal and germanium dioxide (fibre optics, infrared optics, semiconductors, solar-cell substrates and radiation detectors)
The USGS summary gives no abundance figure. It says resources are associated with certain zinc and lead-zinc-copper sulfide ores and lignite coal deposits, and that reserves data were not widely reported at a mine or country level.
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed
- Recycling
- The USGS says much germanium removed in machining infrared optics is routinely recycled as new scrap, infrared lenses and windows from decommissioned military equipment are recycled, and germanium wafers used as solar-cell substrates are recycled.
- Substitutes
- USGS: silicon or gallium arsenide substitute for germanium in certain electronic applications, and chalcogenide glass has been used in infrared applications.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
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spore: profile
id: germanium
spore_version: 0.2
family: semiconductor-materials
name: Germanium
abbreviation: Ge
role: semiconductor
category: semiconductors
type: silicon
summary: Germanium is the element Ge, a semiconductor with a band gap of 0.66 eV at 300 K (EE Semi). Crystran gives its transmission as 1.8 to 23 µm and its refractive index as 4.0026 at 11 µm, which makes it a standard lens and window material for infrared and thermal imaging. Triple-junction space solar cells from Spectrolab and Emcore are built on germanium substrates. The USGS says the United States imports more than half of the germanium it consumes, and that China banned germanium exports to the United States in December 2024.
best_for: Infrared optics from 1.8 to 23 µm (thermal-imaging lenses, ATR prisms) and substrates for triple-junction space solar cells
weakest_at: 'Temperature limit and supply: Crystran says germanium becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K, and the USGS says supply runs through a few producers, China the leading one'
identity:
formula: Ge, elemental germanium, diamond-cubic crystal structure (Fd3m)
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Class/Structure row (Cubic Diamond, Fd3m) and Molecular Weight row (72.59); EE Semi table, Crystal Structure row (Diamond)
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- optics-and-cameras
- electronics-and-chips
- solar-arrays
properties:
- benchmark: density
label: Density
value: 5.3267
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
method: Value printed in a materials property table
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table Properties of Si, Ge and GaAs at 300 K, row Density (g/cm 3), Ge column
- benchmark: density
label: Density (optics data)
value: 5.33
unit: g/cc
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Density row
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point (semiconductor table)
value: 937
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: melting point as printed, no pressure or purity stated
method: Value printed in a materials property table
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table Properties of Si, Ge and GaAs at 300 K, row Melting Point (deg C), Ge column
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point (optics data)
value: 936
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: melting point as printed, no pressure or purity stated
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Melting Point row (footnote 3)
- benchmark: bandgap
label: Energy band gap at 300 K
value: 0.66
unit: eV
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
method: Value printed in a materials property table
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table at 300 K, row Energy Gap at 300K (eV), Ge column
- benchmark: dielectric_constant
label: Dielectric constant at 300 K
value: 16
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
method: Value printed in a materials property table (no unit printed)
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table at 300 K, row Dielectric Constant, Ge column
- benchmark: dielectric_constant
label: Dielectric constant at microwave frequency
value: 16.6
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
frequency: 9.37 GHz
temperature: 300 K
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Dielectric Constant row
- benchmark: electron_mobility
label: Electron drift mobility
value: 3900
unit: cm2/(V·s)
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
type: drift mobility, doping not stated
method: Value printed in a materials property table
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table at 300 K, row Mobility (Drift) electrons, Ge column
- benchmark: hole_mobility
label: Hole drift mobility
value: 1900
unit: cm2/(V·s)
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
type: drift mobility, doping not stated
method: Value printed in a materials property table
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table at 300 K, row Mobility (Drift) holes, Ge column
- benchmark: intrinsic_resistivity
label: Intrinsic resistivity
value: 47
unit: Ω·cm
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
doping: intrinsic, undoped
method: Value printed in a materials property table
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table at 300 K, row Intrinsic Resistivity (ohm-cm), Ge column
- benchmark: electron_affinity
label: Electron affinity
value: 4
unit: V
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
method: Value printed in a materials property table
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table at 300 K, row Electron Affinity (V), Ge column
- benchmark: lattice_constant
label: Lattice constant
value: 5.64613
unit: Å
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
method: Value printed in a materials property table, in angstroms as printed
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table at 300 K, row Lattice Constant (angstroms), Ge column
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
label: Thermal conductivity
value: 58.62
unit: W/(m·K)
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 293 K
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Thermal Conductivity row (printed as 58.62 W m-1 K-1 @ 293 K)
- benchmark: cte
label: Linear thermal expansion (table at 300 K)
value: 5.8
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K (table title)
unit_in_source: 5.8 x 10 -6 per deg C
method: Value printed as 5.8 x 10 -6 (1/deg C) in a materials property table; the number is the same in ppm/K, so no scaling is needed
status: ground
source: eesemi
where: Table at 300 K, row Linear Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, Ge column
- benchmark: cte
label: Linear thermal expansion (optics data)
value: 6.1
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 298 K
unit_in_source: 6.1 x 10-6/°C
method: Value printed as 6.1 x 10-6/°C on a manufacturer product data page; the number is the same in ppm/K, so no scaling is needed
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Thermal Expansion row (footnotes 3, 4, 6)
- benchmark: specific_heat
label: Specific heat capacity
value: 310
unit: J/(kg·K)
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Specific Heat Capacity row (printed as 310 J Kg-1 K-1)
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Young's modulus
value: 102.7
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Youngs Modulus (E) row
- benchmark: shear_modulus
label: Shear modulus
value: 67
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Shear Modulus (G) row
- benchmark: bulk_modulus
label: Bulk modulus
value: 77.2
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Bulk Modulus (K) row
- benchmark: poissons_ratio
label: Poisson's ratio
value: 0.28
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Poisson Ratio row
- benchmark: refractive_index
label: Refractive index in the thermal infrared
value: 4.0026
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
wavelength: 11 µm
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page (references Palik and Li 1980)
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Refractive Index row (printed as 4.0026 at 11 μm)
- benchmark: transmission_range
label: Transmission range
value: 1.8
value_high: 23
unit: µm
scope: material
conditions:
basis: range as printed on the product data page (footnote 1, Palik handbook)
method: Value printed on a manufacturer product data page
status: ground
source: crystran-ge
where: Product Data table, Transmission Range row (printed as 1.8 to 23 μm)
corrosion:
- environment: Ambient air at room temperature
headline: A very thin layer of germanium dioxide protects the surface of germanium.
effect: WebElements says the surface of lumps of germanium is protected by a very thin layer of germanium dioxide, GeO2, and that germanium is more reactive than silicon, but not by much. No thickness is given.
rating: low
conditions:
basis: Rating is the assistant's reading of a protective oxide, not a printed rating
source: webelements-ge
where: Chemistry page, Reaction of germanium with water paragraph (first sentences)
- environment: Water
headline: The oxide layer makes germanium more or less inert to water.
effect: WebElements says the oxide layer renders germanium more or less inert to water. Crystran lists germanium as insoluble in water (Solubility row), but no solubility number was read.
rating: low
conditions:
basis: Rating is the assistant's reading of the wording, not a printed rating
source: webelements-ge
where: Chemistry page, Reaction of germanium with water paragraph
- environment: Oxygen at red heat
headline: At red heat germanium reacts with oxygen in air to form germanium dioxide.
effect: WebElements says that at red heat, germanium reacts with oxygen in air to form germanium dioxide. Temperature and rate are not given.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: Rating is the assistant's reading; no rate or temperature number was read
source: webelements-ge
where: Chemistry page, Reaction of germanium with oxygen paragraph
risks:
hazards:
- text: PubChem's entry for germanium (EC 231-164-3, ECHA notifications) gives 186 of 319 company reports as not meeting GHS hazard criteria. The other reports give H228 (13.5%), H361 (27.3%), H373 (27.3%) and H412 (27%).
ghs:
- 'H228: Flammable solid'
- 'H361: Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child'
- 'H373: May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure'
- 'H412: Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects'
source: pubchem-ge
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (CID 6326954), ECHA C&L Notifications Summary
- text: PubChem lists the signal word Danger, pictograms GHS02 (flammable) and GHS08 (health hazard), and precautionary codes P203, P210, P240, P241, P260, P273, P280, P318, P319, P370+P378, P405 and P501. The statement text for these codes was not checked, so use the supplier SDS for the form handled.
ghs: []
source: pubchem-ge
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification, Signal and Precautionary Statement Codes
failure_risks:
- mode: Loss of transmission at high temperature
trigger: Operation a little above 350 K
consequence: Crystran says germanium becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K, as the band gap floods with thermal electrons. Its refractive index also changes rapidly with temperature.
severity: high
source: crystran-ge
where: Description paragraph, final sentence
- mode: Supply interruption
trigger: China's export licensing (August 2023) and its ban on exports to the United States (December 2024)
consequence: USGS reports that US imports of germanium metal fell by 67% in 2025 to an estimated 7,000 kg, and that US net import reliance was above 50% in every year from 2021 to 2025e.
severity: high
source: usgs-ge-2026
where: Events, Trends, and Issues; Salient Statistics, Net import reliance row
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Keep germanium optics below about 350 K. Above that the material becomes opaque at all wavelengths (Crystran).
source: crystran-ge
where: Description paragraph, final sentence
- text: PubChem's GHS entry is an aggregate of company reports, so check the supplier SDS for the form handled (powder, wafer or lens).
source: pubchem-ge
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification
mitigations: []
uses:
- application: optics-and-cameras
device: Infrared lenses and windows for thermal imaging
example: Crystran says germanium covers the 8 to 14 micron thermal band and is used in lens systems for thermal imaging.
source: crystran-ge
where: Description paragraph
- application: optics-and-cameras
device: ATR prisms for infrared spectroscopy
example: Crystran says germanium is used to manufacture attenuated total reflection (ATR) prisms for spectroscopy, and that its refractive index makes it an effective natural 50% beamsplitter without coatings.
source: crystran-ge
where: Description paragraph
- application: optics-and-cameras
device: Optical fibre glass
example: The USGS says germanium dioxide and tetrachloride are consumed to make fibre optic glass for data networking and telecommunication.
source: usgs-ge-2026
where: Events, Trends, and Issues
- application: electronics-and-chips
device: High-purity germanium radiation detectors
example: The USGS lists high-purity germanium radiation detectors among the end uses of germanium metal.
source: usgs-ge-2026
where: Events, Trends, and Issues
- application: solar-arrays
device: Germanium substrate for triple-junction space solar cells
example: Spectrolab's GaInP2/GaAs/Ge cell has a germanium substrate and a minimum average beginning-of-life efficiency of 26.8% at 28 °C, AM0.
source: spectrolab-tnj
where: 'First page, Features and Product Description (Substrate: Germanium); Typical Electrical Parameters'
- application: solar-arrays
device: Lattice-matched GaInP2/InGaAs/Ge triple-junction cell
example: Emcore reports that its lattice-matched GaInP2/InGaAs/Ge triple-junction device has achieved the highest power conversion efficiency and the most commercial success for space applications. Its histogram of over 100,000 large-area devices has an average efficiency of 27.6%.
source: emcore-ntrs-2009
where: Introduction; Current Technology, first paragraph
supply:
- subject: Germanium metal and germanium dioxide (fibre optics, infrared optics, semiconductors, solar-cell substrates and radiation detectors)
abundance: The USGS summary gives no abundance figure. It says resources are associated with certain zinc and lead-zinc-copper sulfide ores and lignite coal deposits, and that reserves data were not widely reported at a mine or country level.
producers: []
us_position: 'US imports of germanium metal were 22,000 kg in 2023, 21,000 kg in 2024 and an estimated 7,000 kg in 2025e. Import sources 2021 to 2024: germanium metal from China 41%, Belgium 27%, Germany 25%; germanium dioxide from Belgium 57%, Canada 37%. China was the leading global producer, and in 2025 its exports of germanium metal went mostly to Russia (28%), Belgium (26%), Germany (26%) and Japan (18%).'
price: 'Average European price for 99.999% purity: $4,100 per kg for metal and $2,500 per kg for dioxide in 2025e (Argus, via USGS)'
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals (listed in the IEA summary; germanium listed for fibre optics, semiconductors and night vision systems)
listed: true
recycling: The USGS says much germanium removed in machining infrared optics is routinely recycled as new scrap, infrared lenses and windows from decommissioned military equipment are recycled, and germanium wafers used as solar-cell substrates are recycled.
substitutes:
- 'USGS: silicon or gallium arsenide substitute for germanium in certain electronic applications, and chalcogenide glass has been used in infrared applications.'
source: usgs-ge-2026
where: Import Sources (2021 to 2024); Salient Statistics; Events, Trends, and Issues; Recycling; Substitutes
media: []
documents:
- title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Germanium
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-germanium.pdf
- title: PubChem record for germanium (CID 6326954), GHS classification and molecular weight
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6326954
- title: Crystran, Germanium Ge optical material data sheet and product data
type: datasheet
url: https://www.crystran.co.uk/optical-materials/germanium-ge
- title: Spectrolab, Improved Triple Junction (ITJ) solar cell data sheet
type: datasheet
url: https://www.spectrolab.com/DataSheets/TNJCell/tnj.pdf
gaps:
- 'Band gap type (direct or indirect): not stated in the sources read.'
- 'Acid and alkali corrosion (for example in HCl, HNO3 or KOH): WebElements has these sections, but their text was not in the page that was fetched.'
- 'Solubility of germanium dioxide: the Feldmann et al. 2018 chapter (Springer) could not be read (the page returned only an abstract stub), and the ECS and SEMATECH abstracts were seen only as search snippets, so no number was taken from them.'
- Knoop hardness 780 is printed on the Crystran page with no unit, so it is not given as a value.
- 'Intrinsic carrier concentration 2.4 x 10 13 cm-3 (EE Semi) and the dn/dT value +396 x 10-6 K-1 (Crystran) are left out: both are printed in exponent form that the value check cannot match. Breakdown-field and effective-density-of-states values from EE Semi are left out for the same reason.'
- 'Ge world production shares: the USGS summary read gives no world production table for germanium, only US import shares for 2021 to 2024 and the statement that China is the leading producer.'
- 'Occupational exposure limit (OSHA PEL, NIOSH REL or ACGIH TLV) for germanium: not found in this run.'
- 'Radiation damage to germanium itself: not found. The Spectrolab datasheet gives electron-fluence degradation for the finished cell, not for the bare substrate.'
- 'Crystal growth details (Czochralski conditions, dopants, resistivity grades): Crystran names the method and the countries of manufacture only, so no process conditions are given.'
- 'Critical-mineral lists (EU): not checked in this run.'
- 'Property names not in spores/property-canon.yaml and used here: bandgap, electron_mobility, hole_mobility, intrinsic_resistivity, electron_affinity, lattice_constant, transmission_range. Dielectric_constant and refractive_index are canonical.'
- Hazard statement texts for the PubChem precautionary codes (P203 to P501) were not checked; only the codes are listed. The ECHA hazard percentages are from PubChem's aggregate of company reports.
sources:
eesemi:
title: EE Semi, Properties of Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) at 300 deg K
url: https://www.eesemi.com/sigegaas.htm
kind: web
license: page content, cited as published
crystran-ge:
title: Crystran, Germanium Ge optical material page (product data, refractive index and references)
url: https://www.crystran.co.uk/optical-materials/germanium-ge
kind: datasheet
license: page content, cited as published
usgs-ge-2026:
title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Germanium (February 2026)
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-germanium.pdf
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS), cited as published
pubchem-ge:
title: PubChem, Germanium (CID 6326954), GHS classification and molecular weight
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6326954
kind: database
license: public domain (NCBI), cited as published
webelements-ge:
title: 'WebElements, Germanium: chemistry (reactions with oxygen and water)'
url: https://webelements.co.uk/germanium/chemistry.html
kind: web
license: page content, cited as published
emcore-ntrs-2009:
title: Sharps et al., Space Solar Cell Research and Development Projects at Emcore Photovoltaics (NASA NTRS 20090022287)
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090022287
kind: paper
license: public domain (NASA), cited as published
spectrolab-tnj:
title: Spectrolab, Improved Triple Junction (ITJ) Solar Cells data sheet
url: https://www.spectrolab.com/DataSheets/TNJCell/tnj.pdf
kind: datasheet
license: page content, cited as published
iea-crit-2025:
title: IEA, Final List of Critical Minerals 2025 (summary of the USGS list, November 2025)
url: https://www.iea.org/policies/31799
kind: web
license: page content, cited as published
license: CC-BY-4.0
checked_values: 22
updated: '2026-10-26'
story:
risk_groups:
- title: For people
lead: PubChem's aggregate for germanium mixes 186 'not classified' reports with notifications that carry H361 and H373, each at 27.3%. Check the supplier SDS before handling.
level: 1
verdict: Some reports flag reproductive and organ toxicity; the SDS…
points:
- label: Aggregate hazard codes
line: PubChem's ECHA-based aggregate lists H228 (13.5%), H361 (27.3%), H373 (27.3%) and H412 (27%) across 319 company reports. No exposure limit was found, so none is given.
- title: If it fails
lead: Failure routes found in the sources are about temperature and supply.
points:
- label: Heat
line: Crystran says germanium becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K, so warm optics lose their use.
- label: Supply
line: The USGS reports that US imports of germanium metal fell 67% in 2025, after China's ban on exports to the United States.
recipe:
line: Germanium is the element Ge (PubChem). Crystran says a small number of manufacturers in Belgium, the USA, China and Russia grow germanium by the Czochralski technique. The USGS says germanium is recovered from zinc concentrates, through a refinery that produces the dioxide and tetrachloride, and that its resources are associated with zinc and lead-zinc-copper sulfide ores and lignite coal deposits.
parts:
- name: Germanium
symbol: Ge
share_percent: 100
role: Element. Grown as a single crystal for optics and wafers, and supplied as germanium metal and germanium dioxide for other uses.
source: pubchem-ge
where: Compound record, Molecular Weight (CID 6326954)
why: Germanium combines a high refractive index with transmission from 1.8 to 23 µm and a 0.66 eV band gap, which suits infrared optics and space-cell substrates. The USGS says the United States relies on imports for more than half of the germanium it consumes.
uses:
- where: Infrared optics
line: Lenses and windows for thermal imaging across the 8 to 14 micron band, and ATR prisms for spectroscopy (Crystran).
- where: Fibre optics and space solar cells
line: The USGS lists fibre optics first among US end uses of germanium, ahead of infrared optics and semiconductors. Triple-junction space solar cells from Spectrolab and Emcore use germanium substrates.
can_do:
- label: Pass infrared light
value: 1.8 to 23 µm
benchmark: transmission_range
line: Crystran gives the transmission range as 1.8 to 23 µm.
- label: Bend light
value: '4.0026'
benchmark: refractive_index
line: The refractive index is 4.0026 at 11 µm, high enough for a natural 50% beamsplitter without coatings (Crystran).
- label: Act as a semiconductor
value: 0.66 eV
benchmark: bandgap
line: The band gap at 300 K is 0.66 eV (EE Semi), narrower than silicon's in the same table.
- label: Carry heat
value: 58.62 W/(m·K)
benchmark: thermal_conductivity
line: Thermal conductivity is 58.62 W/(m·K) at 293 K (Crystran).
compare: Against silicon in the same EE Semi table at 300 K, germanium has a narrower band gap, a higher electron drift mobility, and a density more than twice silicon's. Its melting point is also lower than silicon's in that table. Germanium also becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K (Crystran), a limit that the sources read here do not give for silicon.
good_for:
- 'Thermal imaging optics: a lens or window material across the 8 to 14 micron thermal band.'
- 'Triple-junction space solar cells: germanium is the substrate under the GaInP2/GaAs/Ge stack, with a 26.8% minimum average beginning-of-life efficiency for the Spectrolab cell.'
watch_out:
- 'Temperature: germanium becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above 350 K.'
- 'Supply: the USGS puts China as the leading producer, with exports to the United States banned since December 2024.'
- Thermal conductivity is far below the metals, so germanium does not spread heat well.
verdict: Germanium is well documented for infrared optics and space-cell substrates. Its density, melting point, band gap and dielectric constant are printed in more than one source, and its infrared transmission range and refractive index come from a product data page that cites the handbook. Its weak points are the 350 K opacity limit and a supply chain the USGS describes as concentrated in China. Acid and alkali corrosion, solubility numbers and an occupational exposure limit were not found in this run.
handling:
- Keep germanium optics below about 350 K. Above that the material becomes opaque at all wavelengths (Crystran).
- Check the supplier SDS for the form handled, because the PubChem GHS entry is an aggregate of company reports with mixed hazard codes.
compare_rows:
- scope: material
label: Density
benchmark: density
- scope: material
label: Melting point
benchmark: melting_point
- scope: material
label: Thermal conductivity
benchmark: thermal_conductivity
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.