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> China is the world’s leading producer of gallium and germanium, which play a role in producing a number of types of compound semiconductors. Compound semicond

> China is the world’s leading producer of gallium and germanium, which play a role in producing a number of types of compound semiconductors. Compound semiconductors combine multiple elements to improve transmission speed and efficiency. I have never heard of compound semiconductors before. This page [1] seems to have a decent summary: > Compound semiconductors are semiconductors that are made from two or more elements... Most compound semiconductors are from combinations of elements from GroupIII and GroupV of the Periodic Table of the Elements (GaAs, GaP, InP and others). Other compound semiconductors are made from Groups II and VI (CdTe, ZnSe and others). It is also possible to use different elements from within the same group (IV)... In the past, compound semiconductors were not used in the widespread commercial applications and high production volumes typical for silicon. These crystals are more difficult to grow than silicon. The number of defects in the crystal is higher, and the cost of making the crystal is higher. Compound semiconductors also tend to be more fragile... In recent years, however, the cost of manufacturing compound semiconductors has come down. It is still much higher than silicon, but at the same time, the special properties of these crystals have become more important for certain applications. Because of their fundamental material properties, compound semiconductors can do things that simply aren't possible with silicon. Exactly what kinds of applications can compound semis do that silicon semis cannot? [1] https://global-sei.com/sc/com_semi_e/ https://global-sei.com/sc/com_semi_e/

gpapilion 3y ago
GaAs is used in various diode production from what I recall.
sidewndr46 3y ago
high speed digital circuits rely on silicon for semiconductors. There are plenty of other semiconductors in use, just not for the same thing. Not even for digital circuits in many cases.
dirtyid 3y ago
Next gen AESA radars looking using GaN is probably one of the larger military applications.
adrian_b 3y ago
All the light-emitting devices use compound semiconductors, most of them containing gallium. For instance the back-lighting of the LCD monitors or laptop displays and the modern high-efficiency LED lamps used for home lighting and all the laser diodes that are used in countless applications, like optical fiber networking, Blu Ray players, movie projectors, automotive LIDAR and many others. Also the most efficient transistors for radio transmitters and for power supplies with voltages up to around 600 V, e.g. laptop or mobile phone chargers or ATX PSUs, are transistors made with gallium nitride. Germanium has many applications in special instruments, e.g. for infrared lenses. In very small quantities, germanium is used in all modern CMOS silicon transistors, e.g. in all Intel, AMD or ARM CPUs.

gpapilion 3y ago

GaAs is used in various diode production from what I recall.

sidewndr46 3y ago

high speed digital circuits rely on silicon for semiconductors. There are plenty of other semiconductors in use, just not for the same thing. Not even for digital circuits in many cases.

dirtyid 3y ago

Next gen AESA radars looking using GaN is probably one of the larger military applications.

adrian_b 3y ago

All the light-emitting devices use compound semiconductors, most of them containing gallium. For instance the back-lighting of the LCD monitors or laptop displays and the modern high-efficiency LED lamps used for home lighting and all the laser diodes that are used in countless applications, like optical fiber networking, Blu Ray players, movie projectors, automotive LIDAR and many others. Also the most efficient transistors for radio transmitters and for power supplies with voltages up to around 600 V, e.g. laptop or mobile phone chargers or ATX PSUs, are transistors made with gallium nitride. Germanium has many applications in special instruments, e.g. for infrared lenses. In very small quantities, germanium is used in all modern CMOS silicon transistors, e.g. in all Intel, AMD or ARM CPUs.