What types of metals are essential for night vision?

Last Updated on 25 August 2025

Approximately 80 years ago, the world first became aware of thermal imagers and night vision devices. Since then, they have come a long way and today have evolved into high-tech equipment that helps the military, hunters, scientists, rescuers, and even housewives. As many years ago, devices that allow you to see at night have elements made of various metals in their design. It is thanks to their use that modern thermal imagers and NVDs are high-quality, reliable, and effective in any environmental condition. You will learn about the metals most often used by manufacturers and what role they play in night optics from this article.

Aluminum

Light, flexible and corrosion-resistant aluminum is considered the most popular metal. It is ideal for use in various industries and becomes useful in almost all other areas of activity. The production of night optics is no exception. Here, aluminum is valued for its lightweight and ability to retain its properties even with prolonged exposure to moisture. Most often, aluminum is used to make thermal imager housings, AGM thermal clip on for scopes and night vision devices. In this case, they become as light, durable and moisture-resistant as possible, which allows them to be used even in extreme conditions. Aluminum also becomes an essential component in the creation of reflective elements of optical systems and various auxiliary equipment to which night optics are attached (for example, all types of tripods).

Copper

Currently, copper is one of the most popular metals in the world. It is mined in huge quantities and used wherever there is machinery in operation. In industrial enterprises, in energy, aviation, medicine and in everyday life, this metal becomes an indispensable assistant to man. It is also used in the production of night optics. There, it most often serves as a material that provides heat dissipation and electrical conductivity. Control boards, microcircuits, heat-dissipating elements of sensors – this is only part of the design details that cannot be imagined without copper. This metal is equally often used in thermal imagers and night vision devices. It enables the creation of more compact electronics, which has a positive impact on the size of modern NV and TI equipment. Thanks to this, it is actively used in various fields of activity and helps to achieve set goals.

Gallium

The metal gallium plays a crucial role in night optics. It is a fragile and quite soft material that has a wide range of applications. Manufacturers of night vision devices do not use Gallium in its pure form, but make it the basis of various chemical compounds. The most common of them is gallium arsenide. It becomes the primary material of the photocathode, which ensures the operation of NVDs of the III generation and improved models of the III+ generation. Such devices are the most popular today, and hundreds of operating options have been invented for them. Gallium nitride is also often used. It helps create more compact displays and eyepieces, which are typically installed on military night optics. Sometimes gallium nitride becomes part of night equipment that helps save people in the dark and protects significant objects.

Tantalum

This rare metal is an expensive material widely used in the chemical industry, metallurgy, medicine, aerospace, and electronics. Its resistance to corrosion and ability to absorb gases are key advantages that make the metal extremely valuable. Tantalum is also used in the production of night optics. Of course, such an expensive material is not used as the main one in simple equipment, but is reserved for the creation of high-quality thermal imagers and night vision devices. However, this does not make it less in demand. Most often, tantalum is added to the composition of various optical elements. It allows you to increase the refractive index and get lenses with improved focusing ability.

Zinc

This fragile metal, which is a vital element for the normal functioning of the human body, is also utilized in many other applications. One of them is the production of night vision optics. Here, zinc is not used in its pure form, but is only part of essential chemical compounds. Despite this, the metal is considered one of the most critical elements that ensure the reliability and durability of various structural parts. In particular, a mixture of zinc and selenium is used in the production of almost all optical components. Due to its transparency, this composition is ideal for different types of night vision optics. Moreover, its resistance to scratches and the ability to withstand temperature changes make the material indispensable in equipment designed for use in extreme conditions. Zinc sulfide is also in demand. It is widely used in night vision optics for video surveillance in different lighting conditions.

Indium

The rare metal indium plays a crucial role in the development of modern night optics. It is mined during the processing of lead and zinc ore, and then further adapted for the production of thermal imagers and night vision devices. In them, it becomes a sought-after chemical element. The simplest example of its use is touch screens, which are now an integral part of most night optics models. It is also indispensable in the production of electronic components. Indium is also used as part of various chemical compounds. For example, Indium antimonide enables the creation of IR matrices with high resolution. These design elements often become part of modern thermal imagers, which are frequently used by both the military and civilians.

Cadmium

Cadmium, which is in high demand in industry, is a valuable metal with a classic silvery-white color. It is widely used in the production of Ni-Cd batteries, which offer high performance and the ability to operate equally effectively at both low and high temperatures. Such batteries are rarely installed on thermal imagers and night vision devices intended for civilians; therefore, they are primarily used on similar military equipment. However, these are not all the options for using cadmium. This metal is also the basis for chemical compounds, Cadmium Telluride and Mercury Cadmium Telluride. Both are used in the production of highly sensitive IR sensors designed for top models of thermal imagers and special scanning sensors for military night optics.

Modern night optics are devices created using a variety of different materials. Most of them are metals such as aluminum, copper, gallium, tantalum, zinc, indium and cadmium. Their combinations with each other or other chemical elements are also actively used. All of them allow you to create unique design elements that enable the effective operation of night optics. Therefore, the next time you turn on your TI binoculars or put on NV goggles, do not forget to remember the key role of metals in the operation of such devices and thank the people who mine them.