Where is germanium generally used? How much does germanium recycling cost per gram today?

Germanium, as a strategic resource occupying a pivotal role in modern technology, shines with an indispensable light in many high-end technological fields due to its unique and excellent physical and chemical properties. In the highly sophisticated and competitive semiconductor industry, germanium is like a magical "wizard". As a key doping element, it can skillfully optimize the performance of transistors. When it is integrated, it is like injecting a mysterious force into the transistor, making the movement of electrons in the semiconductor material more orderly and efficient. This optimization of transistor performance is not just a simple improvement, but a qualitative leap for the entire semiconductor device and even a wider range of electronic equipment. For example, in the chip manufacturing of high-performance computers, the doping of germanium can enable the chips to have faster processing speeds and lower power consumption, which is like injecting powerful power into the "brain" of computers, enabling them to handle complex tasks with ease, and thus promoting the rapid development of the entire information technology industry. In the field of optical fiber communication, which is like a "highway" for information transmission, germanium plays a crucial role as a "guardian" ensuring the high-speed transmission of information. Optical fiber communication is a vast and complex network, with each optical fiber being a "vein" of information transmission, and germanium is one of the key factors that keep these "vessels" clear. It can make optical signals transmit stably in the optical fiber, reducing signal attenuation and distortion, just like providing a clear, wide and interference-free "channel" for the spread of information. Whether it is long-distance international communication or high-speed network connections within cities, germanium plays a vital role, enabling people to conduct efficient information exchange anytime and anywhere, which has greatly changed people's lives and working styles. In the mysterious field of infrared optics, germanium stands out. It is like a skilled craftsman used to manufacture high-precision infrared devices. In the military field, infrared night vision goggles use key components made of germanium to enable soldiers to see the surrounding environment clearly at night, just like wearing a pair of "night vision goggles", which greatly improves the concealment and safety of combat. In the civilian aspect, infrared thermal imagers utilize the characteristics of germanium to detect infrared radiation emitted by objects, so as to discover hidden objects or monitor the operating status of equipment in dark or smoky environments, and are widely used in security monitoring, industrial inspection and other fields. In view of the extensive application of germanium in such numerous fields and its significant role in promoting scientific and technological progress, the market demand for high-purity germanium is like an ever-flowing "fountain" and has always been high. This strong demand not only stems from the reliance of traditional technological fields on germanium, but also becomes more intense with the continuous emergence of new technologies. For example, in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence, germanium also has potential huge application value, which has led researchers and enterprises around the world to compete for high-purity germanium resources. This also makes the recycling of germanium a highly economical activity. In today's era of increasingly scarce resources, the recycling of germanium is like digging treasures from "ruins". Every discarded device containing germanium may be a "pearl" hiding great value. According to today's market analysis, the recycling price of one gram of high-purity germanium is about 10 yuan. However, behind this seemingly low price lies profound market logic. Considering the key role of germanium in those high-value application fields, such pricing actually reflects the full recognition of the market for its scarcity and importance. After all, the mining and purification of germanium are not easy tasks, requiring complex technology and high costs, while recycling is a more efficient and sustainable way of obtaining it. Furthermore, the calculation shows that one kilogram of high-purity germanium can reach a value of tens of thousands of yuan according to the current market price. This remarkable figure not only reflects the high value of germanium as a strategic resource, but also profoundly reveals that in specific high-tech industries, even a trace amount of material can generate huge economic benefits. In those high-end technological fields, often only a very small amount of germanium is needed to significantly improve product performance, thereby bringing high profit returns. Therefore, whether from the perspective of resource reuse to achieve sustainable development and reduce the dependence on native germanium mines, or from the perspective of economic benefits, the recycling of germanium is a field worthy of great attention and investment. It is like a bridge connecting the past and the future, technology and environmental protection, economy and development, opening a door to a better technological world for us.