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Indium, In, 49
Metal
429.75 K (156.6 °C)
3106 K (2830 °C)
Tetragonal (space-centered)
7.31 g/cm³ (at 20 °C)
1,2
8.37 - 10-⁶ Ω-cm (at 20 °C)
Physical properties
Indium is a shiny, silvery, relatively soft metal from the boron group that melts at a relatively low temperature of 156.6 °C. In its solid state, it is easy to form into thin foils or wires. In its solid state, it is easy to form and can be easily processed into thin foils or wires. When bent, it emits a characteristic sound similar to the „tin scream“.
Indium forms stable semiconductor compounds with high electron mobility and direct band gaps. This allows electronic and optoelectronic properties to be precisely controlled.
The metal is widely used in modern electronics in particular: Indium phosphide (InP) and indium antimonide (InSb) are used in high-frequency and laser technologies as well as in solar cells. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is also particularly well known and is used as a transparent, conductive layer in touchscreens, modern television screens, solar cells and dimmable windows - for example in airplanes.
Characteristic properties
Indium has a relatively low melting point for a metal and is also extremely soft and malleable. It can be drawn into very thin films or vapor-deposited onto surfaces, which is crucial for many high-tech applications.
Indium easily forms compounds with metals such as gallium, tin or lead, which allows the physical properties to be changed in a targeted manner. This behavior is rare and makes indium particularly interesting for special applications.
Meaning and applications
Today, indium plays a central role in numerous civil and industrial technologies. Its semiconductor compounds such as InP and InSb, which are used in high-frequency and laser technologies, are particularly important.
Indium is also used in transparent conductive layers, which are indispensable in touchscreens, LCDs and solar cells. Due to the growing demand for modern display and communication technologies, the strategic importance of indium continues to increase. This is why the metal is now considered an important raw material for the global electronics industry.