Research Articles

The world is witnessing an electrifying revolution in the automotive industry. Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a compelling solution to combat climate change and reduce our carbon footprint. As more and more individuals and businesses shift towards electric mobility, the demand for efficient and accessible EV charging infrastructure has skyrocketed.

The current automotive display market is dominated by the TFT-LCD technology, and despite the rise of OLEDs in this sector, it is expected this strong presence will continue. IDTechEx's "Automotive Displays 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Opportunities" report provides a comprehensive coverage of this display sector, with key trends, market analysis, opportunities, and granular 10-year forecasts for display volume (number of displays) and value (US$), segmenting the industry by display type and technology.

The global market for Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles is forecast to reach over US$380 billion by 2034, driven primarily by demand for battery electric cars but with rapid growth to other sectors too, including electric vans, trucks, buses, 2-wheelers, and off-road vehicles. Electrification and emissions targets, improving battery performance, and an increasingly attractive total cost of ownership for some vehicle segments are driving this growth in demand for battery electric vehicles (EV).

Thursday 14 September 2023 - Introduction to quantum dots and wavelength tuning approaches; Material options; QD modes of operation; QDs for display applications: unique features, various adoption approaches, introduction, manufacturing techniques, current status and trends; QDs for image sensor applications: Introduction, types, value propositions and trends; Market landscape

Managing the sustainability of Li-ion batteries at end-of-life (EOL) will continue to become increasingly important as the demand for Li-ion batteries continues to grow in sectors such as electric vehicles, stationary energy storage, and consumer electronics.

The new report from IDTechEx, "Electric Vehicles in Construction 2023-2043", shows that there are many reasons to adopt an electric vehicle as a construction professional: they are quieter than diesels, they help with air quality in the construction site, they can be more precise and easier to operate, and so on.

Since the introduction of Artificial Intelligence to the data center, AI has been loath to leave it. With large tracts of floorspace dedicated to servers comprising leading-edge chips that can handle the computational demands for training the latest in AI models, as well as inference via end-user connections to the cloud, data centers are the ideal environment for facilitating much of what AI has to offer.

Thursday 7 September 2023 - The percentage penetration of level 0, level 1 and level 2 technologies in US, Europe, China and Japan; Leading OEMs in level 2 development and technologies; Level 3 vehicles available on the market; Regulatory changes around using level 2 and level 3 vehicles on the roads; How level 3 will spread across consumer passenger vehicles

Spatial computing promises to transform the way people interact with their devices as computing goes truly 3D, with early signs of change already underway. While Apple's upcoming Vision Pro is bringing new excitement to this space, gaming-focused VR (Virtual Reality) headsets from companies including Meta, Sony, and Pico have sold in the millions.

There continues to be lots of excitement regarding new Li-ion anode technologies. The next generation of silicon anode materials are inching closer to commercialization with the promise of improved energy density and rate capability.

The increasing power density of data center racks, driven by technologies like cloud computing, generative AI, and crypto mining, has led to the exploration of liquid cooling as a thermal management solution.

CCUS is a central part of every industrial decarbonization roadmap. At its heart, this is a separation challenge, which therefore brings about the question of whether membranes can be used.

Aerogels have experienced steady market growth historically, reaching a market of just under US$450 million in 2022. Progress has been somewhat slower than some would expect; this has largely been due to competition with lower-cost incumbent insulation materials.

Thursday 31 August 2023 - Marine battery market limitations & fuel options; Electric boat and ship markets; Marine batteries & chemistries; Battery suppliers and China; A look at the IDTechEx market outlook

Running in the background to the more visible, very real wars occurring around the world at present, there is another, economic and industrial in nature. This is a trade war between two principals: the USA and China.

By now, antimicrobial technologies are well known to the general public, being applied to products ranging from antimicrobial coatings to protect people from bacteria and viruses lingering on high-touch surfaces to antimicrobial infused shirts and socks to help limit malodor.

Thursday 24 August 2023 - What is the status and outlook for the quantum technology industry as a whole? How do different hardware platforms for quantum sensing compare? Which new applications are unlocked by quantum sensors? How does the scale and type of opportunity differ between quantum sensing and quantum computing?

The market for nanomaterials, especially nanocarbons, continues to grow - reflecting the potential to unlock several next-generation technologies. Most notable for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is incorporation in lithium-ion batteries, with production ramping up to fulfill demand, while major players are making acquisitions and expanding, leading to market consolidation.

In recent years, interest and activity in the hydrogen sector have accelerated, driven by governments recognizing hydrogen's role in the energy transition and companies worldwide capitalizing on emerging market opportunities through the supply of services, products, technologies, and projects.

The use of rare earths in various modern technology has drawn attention over the years. But with the rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs), the issue has been brought to the fore. 82% of the electric car market in 2022 was using electric motors based on rare earth permanent magnets.

With the ever-increasing demand for higher performance and efficiency in electronic devices, the semiconductor industry is constantly pushing the boundaries of packaging technology. In the context of interconnected dies on a package, the system's performance relies heavily on the signaling that happens within the package.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals ranging from 2-10 nanometers (10-50 atoms) with size-tunable features. They exhibit quantum confinement effects due to their nanoscale dimensions, leading to remarkable optical and electrical characteristics

Now that Mercedes is rolling out driverless SAE level 3 technologies in Germany and the US, the question that everyone in the automotive market is asking is, "when and how will this trickle down to mass market?". IDTechEx's new report, "Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis and Sensors 2024-2044", provides the answer.

Quantum computers have the potential to tackle problems it would take classical computers trillions of years to solve. Most quantum computer designs depend on cooling the hardware to extreme temperatures well below -200 degrees Celsius.

Over 1GWh of batteries are now sailing on waters globally, reflecting 72% industry growth in 2022. Despite this, there have been several challenges that shipbuilders and maritime battery suppliers have had to navigate in recent years.

Quantum sensors promise to unlock new applications through dramatically increased sensitivity. Characterizing the quantum sensor market, quantum sensing technologies, and quantum sensor players, with report covers 17 quantum sensing technology areas along with applications in electric vehicles, GPS denied navigation, medical imaging, and quantum computing with market forecasts from 2024 to 2044.

While abbreviations for Li-ion cell chemistries - NMC, NCA, LFP, etc. - typically refer to the cathode's elements, 'LTO' refers to a cell with a lithium titanate oxide anode that replaces graphite. LTO brings unique high-power cell characteristics, more comparable to a supercapacitor than a battery, creating new electrification opportunities for train OEMs.

Thursday 17 August 2023 - An introduction to FHE, including motivating factors; Discussion of recent innovations and commercial developments within FHE; Identification of technological gaps and potential solutions; A roadmap for how the industry will develop, spanning both technologies and applications.

Can electronics be additively manufactured and flexible without compromising on the capabilities of conventionally produced integrated circuits (ICs)? Often described as 'print what you can, place what you can't', flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) offers an enticing blend of capabilities, enabling rapid prototyping, flexibility/stretchability, and roll-to-roll manufacturing of circuits with conventional ICs.

Thursday 3 August 2023 - Materials and Processing Trends for 2.5D and 3D Semiconductor Packaging; An overview of advanced semiconductor packaging technology: landscape and development; Manufacturing methods and dielectric materials choice for 2.5D packaging; A review of 3D Cu-Cu bonding packaging technology: materials and manufacturing processes barriers and future trend

How far is printed/flexible electronics along the road to widespread adoption? The emerging manufacturing methodology, which replaces etched copper laminate with printed conductive inks on flexible substrates, offers multiple benefits, including flexibility/stretchability, the potential for low-cost roll-to-roll production, digital manufacturing/rapid prototyping, and improved sustainability.

A historic moment was marked in 2023 in Paris, France, as United Nations delegates from 180 countries convened to discuss a treaty to end global plastic pollution. In early June 2023, it was announced that these delegates had taken the first step towards a legally binding treaty to regulate plastics that could come into effect by 2025.

The sustainability, design, and recovery of electric vehicle (EV) batteries are set to be overhauled thanks to the approval of the EU's new regulations governing the battery market. In June 2023, parliament approved new regulations that set out battery requirements, including a 'Battery Passport' and recovery of certain materials.

Li-ion batteries are widely used in various markets, such as in consumer electronics, electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary energy storage. However, as demand for Li-ion batteries continues to increase, the need to manage their sustainability through their entire lifecycle, including at end-of-life (EOL), is also becoming increasingly important.

Wednesday 2 August 2023 - EV Charging for the Decade Ahead; State of public charging deployment in key regions; 800V platforms and wallbox DC chargers; Fleet charging solutions including megawatt charging; Battery swapping and wireless charging developments; Impact of government policies - AFIR (EU) and NEVI (USA)

The European Commission has proposed the Critical Raw Materials Act to "ensure the EU's access to a secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials".