Applied Materials

Impact of Newly Added US Sanctions on the Chinese Semiconductor Sector

Two of the nine new rules stand out, given the scale of both the short-term and long-term impact that they will cause. IDTechEx assesses the impact of these changes.

Disposable Electronics on a Simple Sheet of Paper

Discarded electronic devices, such as cell phones, are a fast-growing source of waste. One way to mitigate the problem could be to use components that are made with renewable resources and that are easy to dispose of responsibly. Now, researchers have created a prototype circuit board that is made of a sheet paper with fully integrated electrical components, and that can be burned or left to degrade.

Recycling Materials: Turning Old Batteries into New Ones

Sustainability of electric mobility largely depends on the batteries. They contain important resources, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. More than 90% of the materials used in lithium-ion batteries can be recycled.

Stickers and a Smartphone for Easy Nitrite Detection on Foods

Nitrates and nitrites give processed meats their characteristic pink color and robust flavor. Although many consumers want to limit consumption of these preservatives because the substances can form potentially cancer-causing compounds, knowing how much is in a food has been difficult to determine. Now, researchers have developed a color-changing film that consumers can stick onto foods and easily analyze nitrite levels by snapping a picture with a smartphone.

PrinterPrezz

PrinterPrezz are a US-based end-to-end manufacturer of 3D printed medical devices. IDTechEx spoke with CEO Shri Shetty to discuss the company's mission.

Efficient, Stable and Eco-Friendly Thermoelectric Material Discovered

Waste heat is a very promising source of energy conservation and reuse, by means of converting this heat into electricity—a process called thermoelectric conversion. Commercially available thermoelectric conversion devices are synthesized using rare metals. While these are quite efficient, they are expensive and, in the majority of cases, utilize toxic materials. Both these factors have led to these converters being of limited use.

Tracking Sleep with a Self Powering Smart Pillow

Studies have linked chronic lack of sleep to physical ailments, such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as mental health issues. Those interested in getting a better handle on what's happening to them at night have two primary options. They can take a sleep test conducted in a medical facility, or they can use an app through a smartphone or smart watch — a much more convenient, but less accurate choice. Recognizing the need, many groups have begun developing new sleep monitoring systems using triboelectric nanogenerators.

New Wearable Technology - For Plants

Plants can't speak up when they are thirsty. And visual signs, such as shriveling or browning leaves, don't start until most of their water is gone. To detect water loss earlier, researchers have created a wearable sensor for plant leaves. The system wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone app, allowing for remote management of drought stress in gardens and crops.

Laser Light, Dye and a Nonsurgical Implant Help Overcome Obesity

When dieting and exercise aren't enough, weight-loss surgery can be an effective obesity treatment. But people who don't want surgery have other options, including insertion of an appetite-suppressing balloon or other implant in the stomach. Now, researchers report that they have augmented that procedure in laboratory animals by coating an implant with a laser-activated dye that kills cells producing ghrelin, the "hunger hormone."

A Bioelectronic Tongue "Tastes" Sweetness

Candy, cookies, juices. Just about everyone likes sweet treats, but what one person thinks tastes too sugary, another might think is just right. This variability makes it challenging to develop new foods and beverages, so companies have sought a more objective method. Now, researchers have developed an ultrasensitive bioelectronic tongue that measures sweetness by mimicking human taste buds.

Device Wraps Around Hot Surfaces, Turns Wasted Heat to Electricity

The energy systems that power our lives also produce wasted heat — like heat that radiates off hot water pipes in buildings and exhaust pipes on vehicles. A new flexible thermoelectric generator can wrap around pipes and other hot surfaces and convert wasted heat into electricity more efficiently than previously possible.

Electroninks Expands Line of Particle-Free Conductive Inks

Electroninks announced the addition of gold and platinum particle-free conductive inks to its catalog of products. The addition of gold and platinum inks gives makers of consumer electronics, medical devices, sensors and semiconductors the ability to make lighter, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly products.

The Most Significant Advanced Materials News from 2021

With the pandemic still raging, supply chain disruptions, the chip shortage, climate catastrophes, and geopolitical turbulence, it is safe to say 2021 has not been smooth sailing. The materials and chemical sector provides the backbone of every industry and remains under pressure from all these challenges. In this article, IDTechEx highlights the key news from their independent perspective on this crucial industry.