Germanium at Umicore

Germanium’s applications are diverse, serving highly demanding, high-tech, niche industries. 

In the semiconductor industry, germanium sits at the intersection of electronics and photonics. In photonics, germanium wafers form the basis for devices like LEDs (light-emitting diodes) for energy efficient lighting, VCSELs (vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers) for instant facial recognition, SWIR (short-wave infrared) sensors for imaging in autonomous vehicles, and quantum dot lasers for ultra-fast optical networks. Many of these devices integrate with silicon chips (called ‘photonic integrated circuits’), enabling compact systems thanks to germanium’s ability to deliver higher performance through a smaller wafer footprint. 

Germanium also enhances high-speed electronics in communication and computing technologies — from wireless 5G networks to CPU (central processing) and GPU (graphics processing units) to 3D DRAM (dynamic random access memory) and solid-state data storage. Thanks to advanced material processes, germanium boosts performance and efficiency, making it indispensable for next-generation digital infrastructure.

In optical communication, germanium is essential in high-speed telecom fibers, helping to run telecommunications and data centers more energy-efficiently, which is essential as the power needs of AI data centers continue to rise.

Given that germanium is highly transparent to infrared light, it has long powered optical applications such as thermal imaging in security, firefighting, and healthcare. Today, Umicore’s wafer moulding technologies GASIR^® glass and Tessella™ dramatically reduce the amount of germanium required in thermal imaging lenses, making them lighter, more affordable and scalable. Looking ahead, Tessella™ will help advance automotive safety and smart mobility thanks to the unique capability of thermal imaging to detect pedestrians and cyclists.

Germanium’s applications span from Earth to space, where germanium wafers power the high-efficiency solar cells that enable today’s satellites and space missions. By reusing germanium wafers, Umicore has found an innovative way to reduce germanium sourcing needs tenfold, thereby supporting the booming space exploration sector sustainably and cost efficiently. Umicore’s germanium wafers have even journeyed to Mars, enabling NASA’s detection of water through germanium-based infrared and gamma-ray instruments.