Indium was discovered in 1863 by the German chemists Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymus Theodor Richter during the analysis of zinc ore samples. The presence of a prominent indigo-blue spectral line inspired the name.
A larger quantity of indium was first exhibited at the 1867 World’s Fair in Paris.
After an initial application starting in 1933 as an alloy component in dental gold, the extensive use of indium began with World War II. The United States used it as a coating in heavily stressed aircraft bearings.
After World War II, indium was primarily employed in the electronics industry, as solder material, and in low-melting alloys. Its use in control rods for nuclear reactors also became important with the increasing adoption of nuclear energy. This led to a first significant rise in the price of indium by 1980.
Starting in 1987, two new indium compounds were developed: the semiconductor indium phosphide and indium tin oxide, which is conductive and transparent in thin layers. Indium tin oxide became particularly important with the development of liquid crystal displays. Due to high demand, since 1992 the majority of indium has been further processed into indium tin oxide.
