Skip to main content
indium

indium

2 9.9
A rare soft silver-white metal used in electronics and alloys
  • noun
  • /ˈɪndɪəm/
  • Specialized
: indio
  • Engineers selected indium for the alloy because of its excellent thermal and electrical conductivity.
  • indium arsenide
  • indium phosphide
  • indium tin oxide

First, Indium has what's called a low migration energy barrier.

Examples

  • Take the metal gallium, which, along with indium, is used to make indium gallium arsenide.

    Blog text (34)
  • Try to replace Indium with zinc and tin.

  • The more similar gallium and Indium are, the smaller this system is.

  • First, Indium has what's called a low migration energy barrier.

  • And then underneath that, you'll hit the Indium that they use as a tin material.

  • I believe it has cigs on the bottom with probably a lot more Indium than gallium in the bottom cell.

  • For rare metals such as indium and gallium, these figures are kept a closely guarded secret by mining companies.

    Blog text (23)
  • The basic structure is a thin semiconductor slab made of indium, gallium, arsenic, and phosphorus.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The production of high-quality electronic components often relies on indium for its unique properties.

  • In solar cells, the thin film of indium plays a crucial role in enhancing efficiency.

Surface Forms

indium singular
indiums plural

Morphology

indium = indigo (semi-transparent) = indigo + ium

Formed from 'indigo' + the element-naming suffix '-ium'; knowing 'indigo' and that '-ium' names elements helps, but the specific link (named for an indigo spectral line) is specialized.

Etymology

Indium was named after the color indigo, meaning 'blue', because when scientists first looked at its light they saw a bright indigo line. That's why the metal is called indium, a rare, soft, silvery-white element used in touchscreens and other electronics.