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2021

The Biodegradable Battery

The number of data-transmitting microdevices, for instance in packaging and transport logistics, will increase sharply in the coming years. All these devices need energy, but the amount of batteries would have a major impact on the environment. Researchers have developed a biodegradable mini-capacitor that can solve the problem. It consists of carbon, cellulose, glycerin and table salt. And it works reliably.

Invisible "Keyhole" Made of Printed, Transparent Electronics

What initially looks like a simple transparent film conceals a whole new level of security. Invisible buttons are printed with conductive ink on the transparent carrier material, the position of which is known only to insiders. Such circuits can be connected to a door lock as an access code, for instance. If the buttons on the polymer film are pressed in the correct order, the door opens.

Energy Harvesting Smart Floors

Researchers have made wood compressible and turned it into a micro-generator. When it is loaded, an electrical voltage is generated. In this way, the wood can serve as a bio-sensor - or generate usable energy. The latest highlight: To ensure that the process does not require aggressive chemicals, naturally occurring wood-degrading fungi take over the task of modifying the wood.

Aerogels 2021-2031: Technologies, Markets and Players

IDTechEx Report: Dr Richard Collins

2020

Haptics 2021-2031: Technologies, Market & Players

IDTechEx Report: James Hayward

Turning Streetwear Into Solar Power Plants

Researchers have succeeded in developing a material that works like a luminescent solar concentrator and can even be applied to textiles. This opens up numerous possibilities for producing energy directly where it is needed, i.e. in the use of everyday electronics.

TwingTec

Twingtec was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from leading research and academic institutions in Switzerland. The company is based in Switzerland and at the time of writing has 9 employees. IDTechEx talked to CEO Dr. Rolf Luchsinger.

Flisom

Flisom describes its flexible solar panels as customizable currently, meaning made to customer formats in their factory, developed in the Empa Photovoltaics Laboratory.

Wood Based Biopaste for 3D Printing

A viscous biopaste that is easy to process, solidifies quickly and is suitable for producing even complex structures using the 3D printing process has been developed. The wood-based biodegradable synthetic could potentially be used in lightweight construction, amongst other things.

Rock Star of Photovoltaics is CIGS

Estimates vary but we are certainly in $100 billion, 100GW territory with the booming photovoltaic market. The new IDTechEx report, "Electronics Reshaped 2020-2040" reveals solar market growth by new capabilities opening previously impossible applications.

Emerging Photovoltaics: Materials Opportunity in New $38Bn Market

The new IDTechEx report, "Materials Opportunities in Emerging Photovoltaics 2020-2040", is based on interviews by multi-lingual, PhD level IDTechEx analysts across the world and 20 years tracking the research and applications. They predict $38 billion dollars in 2040 without colliding with the silicon-in-glass "power station" business. There will be many opportunities for premium pricing of its new specialist materials.

Materials Opportunities in Emerging Photovoltaics 2020-2040

IDTechEx Report: Dr Peter Harrop and Dr Xiaoxi He

Energy Harvesting Microwatt to Gigawatt: Opportunities 2020-2040

IDTechEx Report: Dr Peter Harrop and Dr Xiaoxi He

Electronics Reshaped 2020-2040

IDTechEx Report: Dr Peter Harrop, Dr Richard Collins and Raghu Das

Energy Harvesting for Electronic Devices 2020-2040

IDTechEx Report: Dr Peter Harrop, Dr Xiaoxi He and Raghu Das

Distributed Generation: Off-Grid Zero-Emission kW-MW 2020-2040

IDTechEx Report: Dr Peter Harrop and Dr Xiaoxi He

Printing Complex Cellulose Based Objects

Researchers have set a new world record: they 3D printed complex objects with higher cellulose content than that of any other additively manufactured cellulose-based parts. To achieve this, they used a clever trick.

Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Charging: Off-Grid 2020-2040

IDTechEx Report: Dr Peter Harrop

Urban Use of Ultralight Flexible CIGS Thin Film Solar Cell

CIGS thin film solar cell: A kind of next-generation thin-film solar cell that can be fabricated on glass or (flexible) plastic substrate. This kind of solar cell shows high conversion efficiencies even with very a thin absorber layer with 1-2 μm thickness.

Thin-Film Solar Cells Generate as Much Energy as Traditional Ones

Scientists have become the first to achieve an energy efficiency of 25 percent with a thin-film solar cell. This means that this wafer-thin solar cell generates as much energy as a traditional silicon solar cell.