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2020

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.

Energy Harvesting Microwatt to Gigawatt: Opportunities 2020-2040

IDTechEx Report: Dr Peter Harrop and Dr Xiaoxi He

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, Dr Xiaoxi He and Daniele Gatti

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.

Electric Vehicles 2020-2030: 2nd Edition

IDTechEx Report: Dr Richard Collins, Dr Peter Harrop, Luke Gear, Dr Na Jiao, Dr David Wyatt and Dr James Edmondson

2019

Machine learning to help develop self-healing robots that 'feel pain'

Researchers will use self-healing materials and machine learning to develop soft robotics as part of a new collaborative project.

A Solid Future: New Opportunities enabled by Solid State Batteries

Solid state batteries have been considered as the avenue to the next generation energy storage solutions. According to IDTechEx's research "Solid-State and Polymer Batteries 2019-2029: Technology, Patents, Forecasts, Players" www.idtechex.com/solid.

Transparent Conductive Films and Materials: Transition from old to new

The market composition of transparent conductive films and materials has not dramatically shifted for some years. It is heavily reliant upon select markets such as flat consumer small/medium sized electronic touch screens. Indeed, the IDTechEx Research report Transparent Conductive Films and Materials 2018-2028: Forecasts, Technologies, Players puts this reliance around 85-90% today. The emergence of new applications has also been slower than many had predicted and hoped. This report finds that so-called 'old' applications are still the vast majority of the market.

2018

Aerogels 2019-2029: Technologies, Markets and Players

IDTechEx Report: Dr Richard Collins

Stretchable and Conformal Electronics 2019-2029

IDTechEx Report: Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh, James Hayward and Dr Xiaoxi He

Lightweight Metals 2018-2028: Forecasts, Developments, Players

IDTechEx Report: Dr Richard Collins

2017

New batteries with better performance and improved safety

Researchers from Empa and the University of Geneva have developed an initial prototype of a solid sodium battery with the potential to store extra energy.

Illuminated pajamas treat newborns

Babies who suffer from jaundice after birth are treated with shortwave light. Empa researchers have now developed illuminated pajamas that replace the treatment in an incubator.

A rubber power plant

Researchers have developed a flexible material that generates electricity when stressed. In future, it might be used as a sensor, integrated into clothing or even implanted in the human body, for instance, to power a pacemaker.

Ultra-thin concrete roof with thin-film photovoltaics

A prototype for an ultra-thin, sinuous concrete roof using innovative design and fabrication methods. A second, exterior layer of the concrete sandwich structure encloses the roof, onto which thin-film photovoltaic cells are installed.