Research Articles

The space economy is growing rapidly, driven by commercial operations with lower costs. Thermal protection systems enable spacecraft to endure the extreme environments of atmospheric entry, but how will developments in this industry impact the broader space economy?

Although there have been several unsuccessful attempts to commercialize MOFs historically, the design flexibility and structural versatility of MOFs have attracted widespread interest in numerous applications in recent years, many of which are nearing commercialization. With a projected 30-fold market growth by 2035, this article offers an in-depth look at how MOFs are reshaping the future of carbon capture, water harvesting, chemical and gas separations, and beyond.

Conventional printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing is wasteful, harmful to the environment and energy intensive. This can be mitigated by the implementation of new recyclable materials and technologies, which have the potential to revolutionize electronics manufacturing.

Wednesday 23 April 2025 - Market adoption rates and sales projections for 14 ADAS features; Cutting-edge developments from Tier 1 suppliers, including SoCs and vehicle-mounted sensors; Case studies from China, the US, and Europe on ADAS implementation

At GTC 2025, NVIDIA announced two new networking switch platforms - Spectrum-X Photonics and Quantum-X Photonics - based on Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) technology. Both platforms incorporate TSMC's 3D hybrid bonding technology for its CPO, and these will be the world's first 3D-stacked silicon photonics engine.

Ion exchange membranes are crucial materials used as solid electrolytes in green hydrogen and energy storage technologies. Rising demand and material manufacturing innovations are set to define the ion exchange membrane market over the next decade, which IDTechEx predicts will exceed US$2.9B in value by 2035.

Fuel cells are on the rise as sustainability and decarbonization efforts become more widespread globally due to their ability to help contribute to economies on their way to meeting net zero targets.

Early electrification work for micro EVs was carried out using Pb-acid batteries, but a fast transition toward Li-ion dominance is now underway. This article highlights key factors that will drive this critical transition over the next 20 years.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are heralded as a transformative innovation in energy storage (ES), offering numerous advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries. These benefits position SSBs as a cornerstone of the next generation of battery technologies, with the potential to reshape industries reliant on ES.

With the USA importing up to 80% of its raw silver, imposed tariffs will dramatically affect the technology landscape for conductive inks. This article assesses emerging alternative inks and the required ink properties for specific applications.

With the introduction of collaborative robots and AI agents, household chores could also become a display of the latest intelligent robotics technology. From companionship robots that engage in conversation and play board games to cars that drive themselves safely using radar and artificial intelligence, the possibilities for robotics are endless.

As an independent market intelligence firm with industry experts immersed in the electric vehicle sector, we've put together our take on what you need to know about the US automotive trade tariffs.

This article takes a look at the role of radar in the future of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving, including market segmentation, regulatory catalysts, and regional contrasts.

Wednesday 16 April 2025 - The Future of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles: Is the Zero-Emissions Vehicle Market Destined to be Battery Electric? The current FCEV market for cars, light commercial vehicles, buses, and medium and heavy-duty trucks; The opportunities for FCEVs in each vehicle segment; The continued challenges for FCEVs in penetrating the zero-emissions vehicle market; IDTechEx's outlook for FCEVs in each vehicle segment

The global market for Li-ion battery cells alone is forecast to exceed US$400 billion by 2035. This article highlights the importance of cathode materials and next-generation Li-ion technologies in improving battery performance and diversifying Li-ion battery material supply chains.

Steel decarbonization technologies have been under development for many years; however, the advancement of new hydrogen-based and electric technologies has recently accelerated, paving the way for green steel production. This article presents some highlights from IDTechEx's latest Green Steel research, discussing policies and regulations driving the market, technologies for decarbonizing existing steel mills, hydrogen-DRI and new ironmaking technologies for green steel, and key sectors procuring green steel.

Haptics refers to the technology that actively enhances the touch experience when engaging with devices, allowing for a more streamlined and stimulating customer experience with surface textures and thermal haptics. IDTechEx expects the haptics market to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% between 2024 and 2035.

Thursday 17 April 2025; Self-Healing Materials: Commercial Success or Academic Novelty? An introduction to self-healing materials and mechanisms; Materials science considerations for self-healing materials; Assessment of the applications driving self-healing materials R&D and the likelihood of commercial success

In the first of this new series, IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst Shazan Siddiqi caught up with Darren Tan, CEO of UNIGRID Battery, at Cambridge EnerTech's International Battery Seminar 2025 in Orlando, to discuss the evolving battery landscape.

This article outlines a dual strategy to address PFAS contamination; regulating PFAS production and usage to prevent further environmental release, and deploying advanced treatment technologies to eliminate existing PFAS pollution.

As demand continues to grow and supply risks swell, a market for critical material recovery technology that enables recycling from end-of-life products and waste is rapidly emerging.

The medical sector is one of the largest spaces where 3D printing operates, with opportunities for implant customization, educational models, and drug manufacturing.

People with diabetes have long been at the forefront of adopting digital health technologies, using digital platforms to seek out support, information about their condition, and to better understand the data that comes from managing it. The growing integration of wearable sensors and device data into digital health apps provides people with diabetes support right at their fingertips.

Decarbonization regulations are a primary driver of vehicle electrification globally. This article examines key sectors within this market and explores future prospects.

In this article, IDTechEx explores how semiconductor manufacturing holds the key to enabling the low-cost mass production of quantum sensors.

Perovskite PV has garnered significant industry interest due to its high efficiency, scalable manufacturing, and relatively low material costs. However, durability challenges have long stalled its commercialization. Now, several pilot and small commercial scale perovskite solar projects are underway, with many companies achieving panel lifetimes over 10 years and steadily bridging the gap to the 25-year target.

With approximately 90 million vehicles sold worldwide in 2023, the car market is the biggest transport sector. 14.4 million electric vehicle sales were made in 2023, jumping to 18.1 million in 2024, highlighting a fast-growing market with scope for EV manufacturers to continue to establish themselves further.

Thursday 10 April 2025 - Integration of In-Cabin Sensors Into Software-Defined Vehicles and AI Features; An overview of regulations in Europe, China, USA, and Japan, and how regulations affect the adoption rate of in-cabin sensing technologies; An analysis of different in-cabin sensor technologies and the future trends; A key summary and analysis of how AI and vehicle software are linked with in-cabin sensors; Market opportunities and forecast overview

With record-breaking carbon credit sales in 2024 and increasing overlap of voluntary and compliance carbon markets, the business case for carbon dioxide removal is growing stronger. IDTechEx forecasts the carbon credit market revenue from durable, engineered carbon dioxide removal technologies will exceed US$14 billion in 2035.

Worldwide, 830 million people were reported to have diabetes in 2022. Diabetes management is, therefore, a vital technology sector due to the complications that can occur as a result of the condition, the importance of which is highlighted by the market's multi-billion-dollar value.

IDTechEx analysts attended Data Centre World in London as part of ongoing data center sustainability and thermal management research. This article highlights three insights from the event.

Miniaturization and increased capability are two of the main current trends within 3D electronics, which creates an opportunity for in-mold electronics (IME) to prove its capabilities as a new way to streamline products and create new aesthetics.

Wednesday 9 April 2025 - Driving E-Mobility Forward: How EVs Are Shining a Spotlight on Aerogels; An introduction to aerogels; Factors and regulations driving the increased focus on fire safety in EVs; Comparison of aerogel material types as EV fire protection materials and comparison with other fire protection materials; Market status and outlook for future market share of aerogels in EV applications

Sodium-ion batteries share similar electrochemical principles with lithium-ion but differ in cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes, with ongoing development in cost-effective sodium-based alternatives. While sodium-ion technology faces challenges in achieving cost-competitiveness with lithium-ion, advancements in engineering and material innovation could enable it to serve as a complementary solution in specific applications.

Solid-state batteries are emerging as a promising solution for advanced energy storage, offering a unique balance of performance characteristics that make them suitable for a wide range of applications. However, their widespread adoption will depend on overcoming challenges such as scalability, cost reduction, and addressing interfacial issues between the solid electrolyte and electrodes.

The renewable energy landscape is evolving rapidly, with solar power leading the way. In 2023, global investments in solar energy reportedly surpassed all other power generation sources—including oil—for the first time. This article details the major growth factors for the thin film photovoltaics market, including the emerging technologies and application areas.