Research Articles

Due to the growing concerns surrounding the health of humans and the environment as a result of PFAS, regulations are being put in place worldwide. While many countries still have no restrictions on PFAS usage, other countries, specifically within the EU, are potentially facing a universal PFAS ban.

Concrete is the second most consumed resource in the world, following behind only water. It is a well-understood material with excellent properties, including its strength, robustness, and fire and water resistance. Because concrete will continue to be necessary for building new infrastructure as populations grow and urbanize, simply cutting down on construction isn't an option.

Advanced carbon materials can be described as a family, made up of a diverse array of 3D, 2D, 1D, and 0D materials, each with its own properties and best-suited applications. IDTechEx's research provides in-depth analysis of the market impact of each material type, and their individual use cases from high-end sporting goods to R&D materials that are beginning to mature.

The lithium metal battery market is gaining ever-growing interest due to the enhanced energy density of lithium when compared with graphite anodes. This could be particularly important within one of the main applications for this technology, the electric vehicle market, which currently represents the largest sector for global battery demand.

Recycling plastics from the automotive sector and reusing them in vehicle manufacturing processes will be critical in reducing resource consumption and the use of unsustainable plastics.

Second-life EV battery assessments can be carried out using diagnostic tools and software, with some newer approaches taking just ten minutes instead of a few hours with regular cycling methods. Second-life battery repurposing and accurate battery health assessments will become increasingly important alongside the growing availability of end-of-life (EOL) EV batteries.

Fuel cells are on the rise as sustainability and decarbonization efforts become more widespread globally due to their ability to help contribute to economies on their way to meeting net zero targets.

With the introduction of collaborative robots and AI agents, household chores could also become a display of the latest intelligent robotics technology. From companionship robots that engage in conversation and play board games to cars that drive themselves safely using radar and artificial intelligence, the possibilities for robotics are endless.

Haptics refers to the technology that actively enhances the touch experience when engaging with devices, allowing for a more streamlined and stimulating customer experience with surface textures and thermal haptics. IDTechEx expects the haptics market to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% between 2024 and 2035.

The medical sector is one of the largest spaces where 3D printing operates, with opportunities for implant customization, educational models, and drug manufacturing.

Decarbonization regulations are a primary driver of vehicle electrification globally. This article examines key sectors within this market and explores future prospects.

With approximately 90 million vehicles sold worldwide in 2023, the car market is the biggest transport sector. 14.4 million electric vehicle sales were made in 2023, jumping to 18.1 million in 2024, highlighting a fast-growing market with scope for EV manufacturers to continue to establish themselves further.

Worldwide, 830 million people were reported to have diabetes in 2022. Diabetes management is, therefore, a vital technology sector due to the complications that can occur as a result of the condition, the importance of which is highlighted by the market's multi-billion-dollar value.

Miniaturization and increased capability are two of the main current trends within 3D electronics, which creates an opportunity for in-mold electronics (IME) to prove its capabilities as a new way to streamline products and create new aesthetics.

Solid-state batteries are emerging as a promising solution for advanced energy storage, offering a unique balance of performance characteristics that make them suitable for a wide range of applications. However, their widespread adoption will depend on overcoming challenges such as scalability, cost reduction, and addressing interfacial issues between the solid electrolyte and electrodes.

Photovoltaic technologies are gaining momentum as a result of solar power being one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources across the world. In 2021, solar installations were seen to overtake wind generation, and in 2023, approximately 450GW of new solar capacity was recorded.

Automotive and battery OEMs are responsible for collecting retired batteries, which is where the second-life battery value chain begins. Recycling processes may see critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel reclaimed by OEMs. However, the already somewhat established relationship between recyclers and manufacturers may prove tricky for repurposing companies to interrupt.

Front and side radars serve distinct yet complementary roles in ADAS, making them essential for autonomous vehicles. IDTechEx explores the latest radar developments and explores autonomy leveling up, with Level 2+ asserting itself within the US and Europe's autonomous vehicle markets.

Quantum sensors get their name from their ability to measure on a quantum scale the smallest known parts of the universe, including atoms and other tiny particles, some of which were unknown before the introduction of this technology. IDTechEx's report, "Quantum Sensors Market 2025-2045: Technology, Trends, Players, Forecasts" provides an in-depth analysis of the technology by type and application, forecasting the quantum sensor market to reach US$2.2 billion in 2045, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.4%.

Data centers can be likened to an ecosystem of computing facilities that contain many facets required to store and handle data. IDTechEx's latest report, "Sustainability for Data Centers 2025-2035: Green Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players", unpacks efforts being made in the data center sector towards increased sustainability in response to the rising CO2 emissions from the development of AI.

Wearables, including medical devices, hearables, XR, and smartwatches, will be the main drivers for flexible battery developments - specifically bulk batteries. Companies are looking for new features and form factors from batteries to best suit the development of smaller and lighter devices, particularly in the medical and fitness sectors, where the Internet of Things and interconnected devices will become a large part of remote patient monitoring and health tracking.

Chiplets allow for GPU, CPU, and IO components to become miniaturized to suit the rise of smaller and more compact devices and hardware and can bring about a means of integrating various functions into a more simplified, unified design.

As the United States withdraws from the 2015 Paris Agreement, which established globally shared goals that pledged to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, concerns about the future of sustainable technologies are growing. However, IDTechEx identifies key areas where sustainable growth can remain a reality.

By 2035, the EU plans to impose a ban on all cars and vans that produce emissions, with the UK potentially bringing this date forward to 2030. There are nearly 30 low or emission-free zones across 18 European countries, meaning there is lots of incentive for electrification. In some cities, such as London, there is a charge for driving through emission-free zones, meaning eLCVs may become increasingly necessary.

Germany has one of the strongest battery energy storage systems (BESS) potential worldwide, with an already large uptake of residential battery storage, meaning market growth is set to succeed within the next decade.

Thermal filler materials make up a large portion of the formulation for thermal interface materials, and each has its own benefits and disadvantages, including conductivity, cost, and mechanical properties.

The advancement of fuel cell technologies, combined with the global commitment to sustainable aviation, creates a significant opportunity for hydrogen-fuelled planes to enhance the sustainability of air travel.

Emerging image sensors are being developed with capabilities beyond well-established CMOS detectors, with the possibility of detecting broader parts of the light spectrum that are beyond human vision. IDTechEx's report, "Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2024-2034: Applications and Markets", covers new technologies including hyperspectral imaging and event-based vision.

Sourcing the most effective means of keeping vehicle batteries cool is a task explored extensively in IDTechEx's latest report, "Thermal Management for Electric Vehicles 2025-2035: Materials, Markets, and Technologies". The report covers many thermal management approaches for electric vehicles, including immersion cooling, and the respective players aiming to make their uptake more widespread.

Radars have had a place within the automotive sector for over two decades, beginning with the first use for adaptive cruise control and many other developments taking place since. With radar technology becoming cheaper and, therefore, more widely available, ADAS system features are offered by many vehicle manufacturers. IDTechEx predicts that the automotive radar market will grow with a CAGR of 4.8% between 2024 and 2034.

As growing numbers of countries identify critical materials within their economies, the ability to recycle them is becoming increasingly important, especially considering both their economic importance and ongoing supply risks. Sustainability goals rely on growing technology sectors like electric vehicles, which rely on magnets to be manufactured, ultimately meaning sourcing and recycling critical materials is an economic necessity to keep supply chains running.

When the Society of Automotive Engineers released their definitions of varying levels of automation from level 0 to level 5, it became easier to define and distinguish between the many capabilities and advancements of autonomous vehicles. Supervision and functionality remain in the balance as values to prioritize for OEMs choosing to employ higher levels of automation.

Biofuels and e-fuels have been on the rise as many sectors worldwide aim to increase sustainability, with traditional aviation using fossil-based jet fuel contributing around 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions. Conventional aviation fuel (Jet A-1) can now be blended with or replaced by new sustainable fuel derived from biomass or electricity. The main advantage of these replacement fuels is repurposing waste products from other industries into useful products, with SAF reducing flight emissions from its production to end use, anywhere from 30% to 90% in best-case scenarios.

In 2024, the 3D printing space saw challenges and slower growth, with several prominent materials players exiting the industry. In the long-term, there are still key trends within the additive manufacturing industry that will drive the uptake of this technology, covered extensively by IDTechEx in their latest report, "3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 2024-2034: Technology and Market Outlook", exploring key players and predictions over the next decade.

Lithium extraction encompasses a number of methods, depending on specific feedstock or source, and is becoming a widely valued technology as the demand for lithium is on the rise. Most of this demand will, in turn, come from demand for battery electric cars and vehicles.

Infrared sensors are becoming more popular in vehicles for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), in-cabin sensing, and driver monitoring systems (DMS), largely due to advancements in vehicle safety and awareness. This increasing adoption of ADAS on regular vehicles alongside safety regulations will create more opportunities for IR technologies.