Unlike many of the basic elements, there aren't many germanium compounds that have found a use. Germanium dioxide can be used as a catalyst in the production of the PET plastic used in many bottles, ...

So silicon dioxide based glass has a very different permittivity function than silicon metal. Silicon like Germanium is somewhat transparent in SWIR, but mostly opaque elsewhere.

Germanium is a semiconductor in group IVA of the periodic table. It has an atomic number of 32, an atomic weight of 72.59, and a density of 5.32 Mg/m 3. Its melting temperature is 937.4 C. Germanium ...

China said it would stop exports of germanium, gallium and antimony to the U.S., citing national security concerns ...

They will also apply to six germanium products: germanium dioxide, germanium epitaxial growth substrate, germanium ingot, germanium metal, germanium tetrachloride and zinc germanium phosphide.

(Bloomberg) -- Two obscure yet crucial metals, gallium and germanium, are the latest pawns in the escalating US-China trade war. On Dec. 3, China announced an export ban on both metals to the US ...