The germanium is a chemical element of the family of the Cristallogène S, symbol Ge and Atomic number 32.

It is a Métalloïde Semi-conducteur.

Discovered and naming

Discovered by the German scientist Clemens Winkler the February 6th 1886, the origin of its name results from a '' misunderstanding ''. Winkler had believed that the preceding element, the Gallium, had been thus named because of the nationality of the chemist French Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran ( Gallia , Gaulle, in Latin), his discoverer. He thus baptized the new chemical element germanium in honor of his country ( Germania , Germanic, always in the Latin one). However, Winkler had been mistaken: the name Gallium does not derive from Gallia but from gallus , the Latin cock in , Latinized name of the homonymous chemist.

Layer

Germanium can be found in many places, but in weak concentrations.

Applications

Germanium was used as substrate Semi-conducteur until silicon takes its place, towards the Années 1970. Today, it is used more only in the field of the high frequencies, and for the realization of Diode S with weak fall (0,3 V approximately, application in detection). In the field of research, one also finds it with the state of alloy or multi-layer with the Silicium (SiGe). At the origin, motivations of its deposit in alternation with If rested on the possibility of making the forbidden band of If and of the Ge direct one. This property being important for the optoelectronics applications. The Transistor S SiGe are usually used in the field of the ultra high frequencies in amplification weak signals (weak factor of noise).

Its second use is in the Verre S, thanks to its transparency with the Infrarouge. The structure of germanium cannot be destroyed by the neutron Rayonnement, as for the Acier.

Simple: Germanium

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