In - Indium

Indium is a soft, malleable metal with a silvery-white appearance, part of the group 13 of the periodic table, and bears the symbol In with the atomic number 49. This element is relatively rare in the Earth’s crust but has found significant applications in electronics, optics, and other industries due to its unique physical and chemical properties.

Physical Characteristics:

• Appearance: Silvery-white and lustrous.
• Melting Point: Low, at 156.60°C (313.88°F), which allows it to be liquefied with ease.
• Boiling Point: 2072°C (3762°F).
• Density: 7.31 g/cm³ at room temperature.

Applications:

1. Transparent Conductive Coatings: Indium tin oxide (ITO) is used in touch screens, flat panel displays, solar panels, and various optical coatings due to its excellent electrical conductivity and optical transparency.
2. Solder and Alloys: Indium is used in low-temperature solder applications, especially in electronics, because of its low melting point. It is also alloyed with other metals to improve their properties, such as in bearings and fusible alloys that melt at specific temperatures.
3. Semiconductors: Indium compounds, like indium phosphide (InP) and indium arsenide (InAs), are used in semiconductors for high-speed and high-frequency electronics due to their superior electron velocity.

Compounds:

1. Indium Tin Oxide (ITO): As mentioned, this is used in touch screens and display technologies for its transparent conductive properties.
2. Indium Phosphide (InP): Used in high-speed and high-frequency electronics, including radio frequency (RF) devices, because of its excellent electron mobility.
3. Indium Arsenide (InAs): Employed in infrared detectors, night vision devices, and in some transistors for its sensitivity to infrared light.
4. Indium Antimonide (InSb): This compound is known for its use in infrared detectors and semiconductor devices, taking advantage of its narrow bandgap and high electron mobility.

Basics on Indium-Wikipedia