Research Articles

A complimentary collection of insights written by IDTechEx industry experts, covering key technology innovation trends shaping the next decade.

Thermal management systems could be likened to the glue holding operations together, to ensure systems can run smoothly in optimal conditions. This article explores in particular IDTechEx's research into thermal management for battery energy storage systems and electric vehicles.

Decarbonization of the aviation and maritime sectors will require large amounts of low-carbon fuels to reach global net-zero targets. IDTechEx forecasts that the global sustainable aviation fuel market may reach US$50 billion in 2036.

In this article, IDTechEx Technology Analyst Noah El Alami discusses the potential of the new generation of nuclear technologies - fission small modular reactors (SMRs) and fusion energy - in powering the ever-increasing capacity of AI data centers.

Join IDTechEx Principal Technology Analyst Dr Yu-Han Chang on Thursday 15th January for the expert-led webinar "CPO (Co-Packaged Optics) Technologies and Market Outlook for Next-Gen AI Systems", offering independent, research-backed insights.

The growth of Li-ion batteries creates surging demand for lithium, but there is an increasing need for extraction methods that are efficient, sustainable, and versatile across different environments and regions. This article highlights how the emergence of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies will allow producers to satisfy these needs while scaling up to meet global lithium demand in the coming decade.

Graphene and advanced coatings are two of the subject matters explored in IDTechEx's extensive portfolio of Advanced Materials and Critical Minerals research reports. This article explores some of graphene's main applications and a wide variety of advanced coating types.

The service robotics industry has grown quickly in recent years, spurred on by advances in robotics technology and artificial intelligence (AI), and is set to alleviate labor shortage issues across multiple industries. This IDTechEx article examines the winners in the short and long term in the service robots market.

Global battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments continue to be deployed at a rapid pace, with surging deployments seen especially in grid-scale markets. Giant Li-ion BESS players dominate this market leaving untapped opportunities for smaller players to exploit in commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors, behind-the-meter (BTM). However, operating in this underappreciated market can be complex, given the vast end-use applications and changing regional drivers. This article highlights the emerging demand for C&I BESS technologies.

BESS developers are adopting various passive and active thermal management materials and technologies to improve the safety of their Li-ion BESS technologies. By understanding the root causes and impacts of BESS failure, battery storage players and regulators can target Li-ion BESS technology development with a greater targeted purpose, putting an emphasis on safety to reduce fire and explosion risk. A key pathway to address Li-ion BESS failures could also be with large-scale fire testing (LSFT).

2025 has seen a slew of announcements for high speed electric vehicle (EV) motors, with several exceeding 30,000rpm! What is behind this sudden need for speed? In this article, IDTechEx discusses the benefits, challenges, and solutions for taking this approach. With IDTechEx's latest report on Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2026-2036 predicting that over 140 million EV motors will be required in the year 2036, shifting technology trends could see new opportunities for motor manufacturers and their suppliers.

IDTechEx forecasts that the critical material recovery market value will exceed US$66 billion per year by 2046, as demand, waste volume, and regulatory pressures all grow. Lithium-ion batteries and rare earth magnets are set to become key secondary sources of critical materials, as commercially mature recycling technology capacity scales in anticipation of growing waste volume becoming available in the 2030's.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are maturing into early deployment, and with that maturity comes a practical question: what happens at end of life? Recycling is an important starting point for thinking about sustainability and materials security in SSBs, but it is only a small piece of a much larger transition. This article outlines why recycling matters, where it sits in the bigger picture, and how the IDTechEx report "Solid State Batteries 2026-2036: Technology, Forecasts, Players" can guide decisions beyond circularity alone.

As the demand for sustainable, high-performance ingredients continues to grow, specialty chemicals are emerging as a critical focus area in the chemical industry's transition to greener, more precise manufacturing. Unlike commodity chemicals, which are produced in high volumes and valued for their scale, specialty chemicals are defined by their function, purity, and compliance with rigorous performance or regulatory standards. These chemicals are essential to a wide range of products, from food and cosmetics to catalysts and coatings, and their production presents both technical challenges and commercial opportunity.

As AI workloads continue to scale, thermal management has become one of the most critical and costly elements of data center infrastructure. The cost analysis of server cooling components highlights an important reality: while cold plates often receive the most attention, they represent only a fraction of the total thermal system cost. The true economic picture emerges when server-level cooling is aggregated to the rack and facility level.

Join IDTechEx Principal Technology Analyst Dr Tess Skyrme on Thursday 8th January for this 30-minute webinar, where she will overview three exciting sensor technology innovations: AI, Quantum, and Nanocarbons.

Rare earth magnets, advanced coatings, and aerogels, are just a few of the technologies researched and included in IDTechEx's portfolio of Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals Research Reports.

The telecommunications industry is contemplating a problem it hasn't faced before, a lack of growth. As reported by IDTechEx "6G Market 2026-2036: Technology, Trends, Forecasts, Players", YoY growth rates in global wireless traffic have been on a downward trend since 2020 (albeit still exhibiting growth). As the industry continues to lay the groundwork for the CAPEX-intensive shift to 6G, could various manifestations of AI offer a pathway to renewed growth?

This article gives an overview of the mechanisms by which self-healing occurs, an insight into the trade-offs between different mechanisms, and the key applications adopting self-healing materials, including a look to the long-term future of these materials.

IDTechEx analyst Conrad Nichols summarises the latest progress of Redox Flow batteries.

The article explains some of the benefits that adoption of new advanced coating technologies can bring. This can come both in terms of higher performance, as well as supporting both direct and indirect regulatory compliance. These benefits can be brought to several industries, such as automotive, oil & gas, aerospace, construction and wind energy.

Bipolar plates are a key component of PEM fuel cells, providing structural support and carrying out a major role in the power generating electrochemical reaction. This article discusses the materials consideration for plates, which can be made from metal or graphite/graphitic composite.

With the ever-increasing need for heat dissipation, high-performance thermal interface materials (TIMs) with higher thermal conductivity and other properties are becoming essential. Driven by this trend, a number of high-performance TIMs are emerging. This article primarily introduces the advantages and drawbacks of advanced carbon-based TIMs. However, it is worth noting that many other TIMs offer superior performance. For a holistic view of the TIM industry, please refer to IDTechEx's research report, "Thermal Interface Materials 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets and Forecasts".

Supercapacitors are energy storage devices that offer distinct properties when compared to batteries. Supercapacitors have higher power density and lower energy density than batteries. They also have a significantly larger cycle lifetime, in the tens of thousands, which enables them to undergo frequent charge-discharge cycles without degradation. This allows them to perform in applications where batteries are not appropriate. IDTechEx covers supercapacitors in detail in its recent report: "Supercapacitors 2026-2036: Technologies, Applications and Forecasts".

Thermal management has an imperative role to play in the landscape of advancing modern technologies. This article explores applications from high-performance computing and data centers to advanced batteries in electric vehicles.

Graphene is a material that has received significant attention and hype, with its commercial adoption to date more of a material push than a market pull, as a killer application is sought. Bulk applications are being validated and will see uptake in the future, but this article outlines how short-term adoption will be led by consumer products, particularly those in the prosumer / luxury category.

IDTechEx analyst Dr Xiaoxi He covers solid-state battery technologies and their outlook.

The climate crisis demands diversity in decarbonization solutions. From CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) to renewable electricity from wind and solar power, many green technologies must grow in tandem. In this article, IDTechEx explores how electrochemical technologies could redefine carbon capture as an energy asset.

In recent years, optical transceiver technology has been steadily shifting toward placing the optics closer to the ASIC. Many in the industry expect the transition to progress directly toward fully integrated solutions such as co-packaged optics. IDTechEx's new report "Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) 2026-2036: Technologies, Market, and Forecasts" examines this transition in detail.

The transition to 800V EVs is one which affects the whole powertrain, including the power electronics. In IDTechEx's report, Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Forecasts, these trends are analysed and used to forecast the adoption of wide bandgap semiconductors SiC and GaN, as well as the entire power electronics market for electric vehicles (EV).

As the demand for clean green hydrogen grows, electrolyser demand will grow in tandem. This article details which electrolyser components will seize market value based on adoption of different electrolyser technology solutions.

IDTechEx analyst Mika Takahashi assesses non terrestrial networks in this IDTechEx video.

Drones have transitioned from experimental tools into essential infrastructure across agriculture, logistics, energy, security, and public-sector operations. According to the newly released IDTechEx report "Drones Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Opportunities", the global drone market, including consumer, commercial, and defense platforms, is projected to grow from approximately US$69 billion in 2026 to US$147.8 billion by 2036, corresponding to a 7.9% CAGR.

BYD's recent disclosure via its FinDreams Battery website marks a visible inflection point for solid-state batteries (SSBs): the technology is moving from quiet development into structured demonstration timelines and supply-chain repositioning, with distinct materials choices that diverge from other leading OEM routes. This momentum, alongside public road tests and pilot-line progress across the US, Europe, and Asia, suggests SSBs are entering early deployment while broader automotive integration is targeted later this decade.

This article covers the use of self-healing and sustainable materials in infrastructure and vehicle manufacturing, and how they may promote environmental awareness, safety, and lowered long-term costs.

This article highlights the materials opportunities across quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communications, dividing them into three materials platforms: superconducting chips, photonics (including PICs), and nanomaterials.