Research Articles

A future of sustainability that stretches across the planet, from CO₂-created diamonds and self-healing cities to deep ocean storage, could be reimagined with IDTechEx's large portfolio of sustainability market research. Finding new outlets for harmful gases, using robots to clean the streets, and opting for innovative methods to create clothing, food, and packaging could all allow the environment a chance to breathe.

This article discusses battery innovations in China and the role next-generation battery technologies play in improving battery performance and in enabling Europe and North America to build competitive battery industries.

As regulations get stricter around emissions targets, opting for electric trucks now could be a good investment for the future. By 2030, the EU aims to see a 45% reduction in truck emissions, which is expected to increase to 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2040.

Wednesday 28 May 2025 - The Future of Sustainable Chemicals: Next-Generation Feedstocks and Lignin Valorization; Conventional chemicals and decarbonization of the chemical industry; The potential of next-generation feedstocks as resources to produce sustainable chemicals; Lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for biochemicals: challenges and opportunities; New applications for lignin valorization enabled by new extraction technologies

IDTechEx explores the AI chip markets and key technologies seen in today's AI data centers. This article unveils key trends in high-performance GPUs, custom AI ASICs, and emerging AI chip markets.

Ion exchange membrane material design trends are evolving to meet the demands of emerging green hydrogen, carbon capture, and energy storage application growth markets. IDTechEx forecasts that membrane demand will exceed 5.3 million m² annually by 2035, with innovations in reinforced and PFAS-free materials shaping the next generation of ion exchange membranes.

The global steel industry is shifting towards decarbonization, with hydrogen-based and electric ironmaking technologies developing at an accelerated pace in recent years. This article examines the dominance of hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (H2-DRI) in current green steel project pipelines, as well as the infrastructure and cost challenges hampering widespread adoption.

Thursday 22 May 2025 - IDTechEx Discusses the Hyperactive Li-ion Batteries Recycling Market: Key Trends, Technologies, and Outlook; An introduction to Li-ion battery demand, LIB circular economy and recycling; A snapshot into key Li-ion battery recycling market trends and key player activity; Key trends in LIB recycling technologies, including cathode, direct, graphite anode, and binder recycling; A keynote on LIB Battery Regulation in the EU; IDTechEx's outlook and conclusions on the global Li-ion battery recycling market

By 2025, major automotive players such as Tesla and BYD are set to scale humanoid robot deployment over 10x, paving the way for a projected 1.6 million units in use across the industry by 2035, according to IDTechEx. While current unit costs exceed US$100,000, prices are forecast to drop to US$20,000, driving broader adoption in both the automotive and logistics sectors.

Micro-LED displays possess many qualities that give them unique value within the market. They are self-emissive and have great stability, more so than OLEDs and QLEDs, as they do not have the same sensitivity to oxygen and water. Micro-LEDs, therefore, have a longer lifetime of over 50,000 hours. Companies such as Sony, Samsung, LG, Konka, and TCL are included in the report as some of the existing micro-LED display manufacturers.

Wednesday 21 May 2025 - Next-Gen Storage and Emerging Memory: How QLC SSDs and Emerging NVMs Are Changing the Game; Industry trends driving demand for high-capacity storage and non-volatile memory innovation; What QLC SSDs and HDDs are, and how they compare across key metrics such as performance, efficiency, and density; Market analysis: key players, product evolution, and technology scaling; Deep dive into emerging memory technologies: MRAM, ReRAM, PCM, and FeRAM; Benefits and challenges of emerging memory in embedded applications; Real-world use cases across AI, automotive, industrial IoT, and consumer devices; Future outlook and forecast highlights from the IDTechEx report

Plastic leathers have been a longstanding vegan leather alternative; however, concerns around their petrochemical feedstocks, disposal, and microplastics are beginning to outweigh their low costs for some companies. With sustainability-focused projects on the rise across many sectors, newer types of leather, including mycelium, plant-based, microbial, and lab-grown, are beginning to emerge as more environmentally friendly options.

Direct air capture (DAC) could play an essential role in meeting global net-zero targets by addressing residual and legacy CO₂ emissions. However, capture costs are currently too high. This IDTechEx article explores pathways to lower-cost DAC.

AI system architectures could surpass the capabilities of Chat GPT in high-end data centers, especially as communication between GPUs becomes more enhanced as a result of better connectivity.

Self-healing concrete aims to mitigate economic losses caused by corrosion and degradation of concrete, such as the need for repair or replacement, maintenance costs, and disruptions caused by downtime. Bacteria-based approaches are leading the way for self-healing concrete.

Wednesday 14 May 2025 - The Status and Role of Next-Generation Li-ion Battery Technologies; Next generation anode materials such as silicon, lithium and anode-free designs; Innovations in cathode active materials and their manufacture; Li-S developments; Key cost and resource consideration from advanced Li-ion battery chemistries; IDTechEx's outlook for advanced Li-ion technology

AI and machine learning methods can be used across a battery's entire life, from material discovery and cell testing to second-life assessment, to enhance new developments and diagnostic capabilities.

Tuesday 13 May 2025 - Are Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Ready for Large Scale Commercialization?; An overview of emerging MOF-based technologies approaching commercialization; Material choices and considerations for MOFs in key applications, such as carbon capture and water harvesting; Scaling MOF production for industrial applications; Market status and outlook for MOF demand based on IDTechEx forecasts

On April 29th, the Trump administration modified its existing automotive tariff policy. IDTechEx research has broken down the changes, and the implications for the electric vehicle industry in the US.

China's L2+ ADAS market is accelerating, led by cost-effective full-stack solutions and domestic innovation. IDTechEx projects the market to reach US$20 billion by the 2040's as local players outpace global rivals.

In a world where energy security increasingly intertwines with national security, the global battery supply chain has become a critical focal point of international tensions. As trade barriers rise and geopolitical rivalries intensify, sodium-ion battery technology emerges as a strategic alternative that promises greater self-reliance and reduced vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.

This article discusses the potential of alternative chemical feedstocks, such as lignocellulosic waste, to produce sustainable chemicals. Next-generation chemical feedstocks are a vital tool in the global effort towards decarbonization.

The multitude of battery chemistries available for different EV types means that a variety of safety materials to accommodate their requirements are also necessary. IDTechEx's VP of Research, Dr James Edmondson, presented at the Plastics in Electric & Autonomous Vehicles Conference 2025 - SPE Automotive Division on topics including evolving vehicle technology and materials, while Technology Analyst, Mika Takahashi, covered the wider EV sector.

Thursday 15 May 2025 - How and Why the Ion Exchange Membrane Market Is Preparing for Growth in the Coming Next Decade; An overview of ion exchange membrane materials and their common applications; Key performance requirements and material development trends; Growth markets for ion exchange membrane technology; An overview of the state of the ion exchange membrane market in 2025 and IDTechEx's 10-year market outlook

In the past 5 years, the commercial perception of fusion energy has shifted considerably and is now increasingly seen as a key component of the green energy transition. But what factors led to this shift, and what does a realistic future for the fusion energy industry look like?

Thin film photovoltaics (PV) currently comprises a small portion of the total solar market, yet offer extensive opportunities for applying solar power in new and emerging applications.

White biotechnology, which uses engineered microbes to produce chemicals, materials, and fuels, is emerging as a key driver of the sustainable bioeconomy by offering lower-carbon alternatives to fossil-based manufacturing. Advances in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and regulatory support are expanding their applications across industries, though commercial success depends on factors like scalability, process efficiency, and market acceptance of green premiums.

In April 2025, it was announced that China's GB 38031-2025 would be mandated by July 2026 for new vehicles. This 2025 update goes well beyond the previous one with the requirement for no fire or explosion for 2 hours after the initial event.

Due to the growing concerns surrounding the health of humans and the environment as a result of PFAS, regulations are being put in place worldwide. While many countries still have no restrictions on PFAS usage, other countries, specifically within the EU, are potentially facing a universal PFAS ban.

With rapid charging becoming common and more powerful for battery electric vehicles, IDTechEx assesses whether this makes fuel cell electric vehicles less appealing in comparison.

Thursday 8 May 2025 - Surviving the Heat, Heat Shields for Atmospheric Re-Entry in an Increasingly Commercial Space Industry; Outline the role and function of TPS; Delineate the key categories of TPS, from tile-based systems to ablators and hypersonic expandable decelerators; Examine the key requirements of TPS, from a technical and economic perspective, as well as emerging use-cases; Give a brief outlook for the market over the next decade

The rise of QLC SSDs is challenging hard disk drives in cold storage and beyond. IDTechEx explores how performance, density, and cost are shifting the economics of data storage.

Collaborative robots (cobots) are reshaping automotive manufacturing by enabling safe, flexible, and efficient human-robot collaboration across tasks like assembly, screwing, and polishing, thanks to advanced force sensing, AI-driven vision, and intuitive programming. As electric vehicle production grows and factories seek greater agility, cobots offer a scalable solution, with their market projected to expand significantly through 2045.

Concrete is the second most consumed resource in the world, following behind only water. It is a well-understood material with excellent properties, including its strength, robustness, and fire and water resistance. Because concrete will continue to be necessary for building new infrastructure as populations grow and urbanize, simply cutting down on construction isn't an option.

Wednesday 7 May 2025 - Green Steel Market: Key Drivers, Production Pathways, Innovations, and Offtake Sectors; Overview of the iron and steel supply chain, including low-carbon and green steel; Key drivers for the steel decarbonization and the green steel market, including policies and incentives in key regions; Key innovations in iron and steel production technology; Main sectors adopting green steel and a market outlook

This article analyzes the significant impact of recent US tariffs on the EV charging market, affecting both the physical charging equipment and the broader electrical infrastructure required to support it.