In the vast field of modern optical technology, infrared materials play a pivotal role. Germanium, silicon, and zinc selenide, due to their unique optical and physical properties, have become the cornerstones for building various high-performance optical components, and are widely used in many aspects from military defense to civilian life.
As the basic material for optical components such as infrared windows and infrared lenses, germanium single crystals are the mainstay of the infrared optics field. In military applications, more than 60% of low-end and mid-end infrared optical lenses and 50% of high-end infrared optical lenses are made of germanium single crystals. In the infrared lenses of military equipment such as airborne, shipborne, roadbed, and vehicle-mounted, germanium lenses provide clear "vision" for accurate detection of targets with their extremely high transmittance in the infrared band (but no transmittance in the visible light band). For example, on helicopters, a large number of germanium infrared windows are used to help pilots fly safely and perform tasks accurately in complex weather and night environments.
In the civilian field, germanium also shows its prowess. In various surveillance thermal imagers and nighttime driver assistance devices, germanium optical components can keenly capture infrared radiation emitted by objects and convert it into clear thermal images, thus protecting people's lives and property in the security field and improving the safety of nighttime driving in civilian vehicles. Moreover, germanium has higher electron and hole mobility than silicon, and has excellent performance in high-speed switching circuits, and has also opened up new application areas in infrared devices, gamma radiation detectors, etc.
Silicon has won wide favor in the field of infrared optics for its excellent cost-effectiveness and unique performance. As a common infrared filter material, silicon exhibits good transmittance in the near-infrared (NIR) region of 1.2-7μm, especially in the range of 3-5μm. Its density is only 2.33g/cm³, which is about half of that of germanium or zinc selenide. This low density makes silicon filters the best choice for weight-sensitive applications. For example, in some portable infrared imaging devices that have strict requirements on the weight of the equipment, the use of silicon materials can not only ensure the effective transmission of infrared light, but also reduce the overall weight of the equipment and improve portability.
At the same time, silicon has good mechanical properties and chemical stability, and is relatively cheap, which makes silicon filters widely used in optical devices related to mid- and far-infrared such as infrared spectrometers, infrared imaging systems, and laser systems. In the field of infrared imaging, silicon filters can effectively allow infrared light of a specific band to pass through, providing clear signals for imaging. In spectral analysis, it helps researchers accurately analyze the infrared spectral characteristics of substances and explore the structure and composition of substances.
Zinc selenide is a II-VI compound semiconductor material composed of selenium and zinc, which is unique in infrared optical applications. Under the light of 10.6μm wavelength, zinc selenide has very little absorption, making it the preferred material for making optical devices in high-power CO2 laser systems. It has a high tolerance to thermal shock. In high-power CO2 laser systems, whether it is used as the base material of reflectors, beam splitters, or output coupling windows and beam expanders, zinc selenide can work stably to ensure efficient transmission and precise control of laser energy.
In the field of thermal imaging and infrared imaging, zinc selenide has a high transmittance in the 600nm - 16μm band, which makes it play a key role in thermal imaging diagnosis of medical systems, infrared detection of industrial equipment, and infrared monitoring in the security field. For example, in medical thermal imaging, zinc selenide optical elements can clearly present the heat distribution of the human body and assist doctors in accurately diagnosing diseases; in security monitoring, it can keenly capture the infrared radiation differences of objects in dark environments and provide security personnel with clear monitoring images.
With the continuous advancement of science and technology, the application of germanium, silicon and zinc selenide in infrared optical components will continue to expand and deepen, injecting continuous power for human beings to explore the broader infrared world and improve the quality of life.
In the vast field of modern optical technology, infrared materials play a pivotal role. Germanium, silicon, and zinc selenide, due to their unique optical and physical properties, have become the cornerstones for building various high-performance optical components, and are widely used in many aspects from military defense to civilian life.
As the basic material for optical components such as infrared windows and infrared lenses, germanium single crystals are the mainstay of the infrared optics field. In military applications, more than 60% of low-end and mid-end infrared optical lenses and 50% of high-end infrared optical lenses are made of germanium single crystals. In the infrared lenses of military equipment such as airborne, shipborne, roadbed, and vehicle-mounted, germanium lenses provide clear "vision" for accurate detection of targets with their extremely high transmittance in the infrared band (but no transmittance in the visible light band). For example, on helicopters, a large number of germanium infrared windows are used to help pilots fly safely and perform tasks accurately in complex weather and night environments.
In the civilian field, germanium also shows its prowess. In various surveillance thermal imagers and nighttime driver assistance devices, germanium optical components can keenly capture infrared radiation emitted by objects and convert it into clear thermal images, thus protecting people's lives and property in the security field and improving the safety of nighttime driving in civilian vehicles. Moreover, germanium has higher electron and hole mobility than silicon, and has excellent performance in high-speed switching circuits, and has also opened up new application areas in infrared devices, gamma radiation detectors, etc.
Silicon has won wide favor in the field of infrared optics for its excellent cost-effectiveness and unique performance. As a common infrared filter material, silicon exhibits good transmittance in the near-infrared (NIR) region of 1.2-7μm, especially in the range of 3-5μm. Its density is only 2.33g/cm³, which is about half of that of germanium or zinc selenide. This low density makes silicon filters the best choice for weight-sensitive applications. For example, in some portable infrared imaging devices that have strict requirements on the weight of the equipment, the use of silicon materials can not only ensure the effective transmission of infrared light, but also reduce the overall weight of the equipment and improve portability.
At the same time, silicon has good mechanical properties and chemical stability, and is relatively cheap, which makes silicon filters widely used in optical devices related to mid- and far-infrared such as infrared spectrometers, infrared imaging systems, and laser systems. In the field of infrared imaging, silicon filters can effectively allow infrared light of a specific band to pass through, providing clear signals for imaging. In spectral analysis, it helps researchers accurately analyze the infrared spectral characteristics of substances and explore the structure and composition of substances.
Zinc selenide is a II-VI compound semiconductor material composed of selenium and zinc, which is unique in infrared optical applications. Under the light of 10.6μm wavelength, zinc selenide has very little absorption, making it the preferred material for making optical devices in high-power CO2 laser systems. It has a high tolerance to thermal shock. In high-power CO2 laser systems, whether it is used as the base material of reflectors, beam splitters, or output coupling windows and beam expanders, zinc selenide can work stably to ensure efficient transmission and precise control of laser energy.
In the field of thermal imaging and infrared imaging, zinc selenide has a high transmittance in the 600nm - 16μm band, which makes it play a key role in thermal imaging diagnosis of medical systems, infrared detection of industrial equipment, and infrared monitoring in the security field. For example, in medical thermal imaging, zinc selenide optical elements can clearly present the heat distribution of the human body and assist doctors in accurately diagnosing diseases; in security monitoring, it can keenly capture the infrared radiation differences of objects in dark environments and provide security personnel with clear monitoring images.
With the continuous advancement of science and technology, the application of germanium, silicon and zinc selenide in infrared optical components will continue to expand and deepen, injecting continuous power for human beings to explore the broader infrared world and improve the quality of life.
Trusted Optical Components Manufacturer
AOS Optics provides custom optical component processing from medium precision to ultra-high precision. From cutting, fine grinding, polishing, coating, to quality inspection before shipment, we complete them all in our own factory, truly providing you with one-stop service...
AOS Optics Co., Ltd
Tel: +86 189 4674 7897
E-mail: inquiry@aosoptic.com
Address: Yiju Road High-Tech Zone,Changchun City,
Jilin Province, China