germanium by a special contributor is relatively common semi conducting element that has similar properties to silicon metal mostly produced as product of zinc and copper smelting where it recovered from flue dust there also significant resource in carbonaceous materials such coal interest recovering the material post combustion well known an excellent conductor used variety products include night vision enhancement devices dioxide highly effective polymerisation catalyst which represents its highest single end use geo2 or additive production polyethylene terephthalate pet basis for plastic bottles sheet film textile fibres most frequently traded form transparent infrared light much same way window glass optical estimated uses 2004 were catalysts 35 optics 25 fibre 20 electronics solar applications 12 other research metallurgy chemotherapy 8 reported only
