Due to its special properties, gallium is indispensable in the semiconductor industry. The technology metal is processed in the form of gallium arsenide for the production of high-performance microchips. Another important area of application is optoelectronics, which uses gallium for the production of LEDs, light-emitting diodes and laser diodes. The industry also requires it for thin-film transistors based on IGZO (indium, gallium and zinc oxide). These are increasingly replacing amorphous silicon as a coating material for LCD screens.
Gallium is alloyed with various metals. In the form of a gallium-indium-tin eutectic, it is used as a mercury substitute for clinical thermometers. Gallium alloys with iron, yttrium, lithium, magnesium and gadolinium give materials magnetic properties.