Germaniumbased

Germanium-based materials are compounds and alloys in which the element germanium (Ge) is a principal constituent. The category encompasses elemental germanium, inorganic compounds such as germanates and germanides, and a range of alloys and organogermanium compounds used in industry. In electronics and photonics, germanium-based materials are especially important because germanium offers higher carrier mobility than silicon and can be integrated with silicon technology.

In semiconductor applications, silicon–germanium (SiGe) alloys are used to modify lattice constants and improve transistor performance through strain engineering. Germanium–tin (GeSn) alloys are explored for infrared and mid-infrared optoelectronics; germanium can also serve as a platform for germanium-on-insulator structures and other heterogeneous integrations. In optics, germanium and Ge-containing compounds (such as GeO2) are valued for infrared transmission and as materials for lenses and waveguides. Organogermanium compounds have been studied in chemistry and materials science, with niche applications in catalysis and advanced materials.

Ge-based materials are typically produced by refining germanium from ore deposits, then refining to ultra-high-purity grades required for semiconductor device fabrication. Most germanium is recovered as a byproduct of zinc ore processing. Because of its compatibility with silicon technology, germanium-based materials continue to be an area of research for high-speed electronics, integrated photonics, and infrared optics.