Research Articles

Growing hype and synergistic development with quantum computing and communications are driving interest and investment into the quantum technology sector unlike ever before. Quantum sensors are anticipated to generate revenues of over US$1.9 billion by 2046, with an average CAGR of 9.0% over the next twenty years.

Webinar: Commercial Quantum Computing: Cloud Services, AI, and Beyond Presenter: Noah El Alami, Technology Analyst, IDTechEx Date: Thursday 4 September 2025

IDTechEx's research dives into some of most intelligent material technologies. This article specifically explores carbon nanotubes (CNTs), self-healing materials, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

In this article, IDTechEx examines the complex decisions shaping digital transformation in materials R&D and what they mean for the future of AI-powered innovation.

Transportation is one of the largest sectors worldwide, which is why technologies to advance sustainability and efficiency are more prevalent than ever. This article explores the electrification of different types of transport, including construction vehicles, cars, planes, and ships, for a more sustainable future of travel.

PFAS materials are critical to the functioning of today's Li-ion cells, but there is growing pressure to eliminate them from batteries due to negative health and environmental impacts and potential regulatory pressure. This article highlights how the development of non-PFAS materials is paving the way for the commercialization of the first PFAS-free batteries.

In this article, IDTechEx explores the global landscape of the nuclear fusion industry. With billions already invested in this revolutionary energy technology, how do the strengths and weaknesses of the USA, China, and Europe stack up against each other in the race for fusion energy?

Thermal management technologies have a great prevalence across a number of sectors. This article covers some emerging thermal management methods taking place for EV batteries, data centers, and spacecrafts.

Webinar: What's After R1234yf for Post-PFAS Automotive Refrigerants? Presenter: Dr James Edmondson, VP Research, IDTechEx Date: Thursday 28 August 2025 Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times during the day.

IDTechEx forecasts that the market size of thermal interface materials (TIMs) will exceed US$7 billion, covering multiple industries including EV batteries, EV power electronics (TIM1 and TIM2), data centers, advanced semiconductor packaging (TIM1 and TIM1.5), ADAS sensors, consumer electronics, and 5G. Find out more in this new article by Senior Technology Analyst Yulin Wang.

The breakdown of plastics treaty negotiations in Geneva today marks a significant blow to both global environmental governance and the plastics sector. IDTechEx Technology Analyst James Kennedy has made the following comment.

This new IDTechEx report provides critical insight into the fast-growing micro EV industry of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and microcars. IDTechEx's report highlights critical sales trends across all major global markets. Key players and models are benchmarked, including analyses of battery technologies, motor power, and pricing. 20-year granular forecasts broken down by region, power class, and battery chemistry highlight how micro EVs will grow to be an over US$90 billion opportunity by 2046.

Material opportunities for electrolyzers for green hydrogen.

Quantum technology developments are creating opportunities for increased sensing sensitivity, extra secure communications, and high-speed computing. This article explores three of the main areas of quantum technology that are on the rise.

Sensor technologies are advancing and being developed to detect things from human facial expressions and mood, all the way down to the tiny scale of particles on a quantum level. This article explores sensing technologies across different sectors including automotives, consumer devices, and quantum.

This article explores the key innovation trends for catalysts and membranes across the AEL, PEMEL, AEMEL, and SOEC water electrolysis technologies. This article draws on research from IDTechEx's report, "Materials for Green Hydrogen Production 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts".

With the rising prevalence of these data centers, the accelerated computing chips needed within them are hot in today's markets. In the market report "AI Chips for Data Centers and Cloud 2025-2035: Technologies, Market, Forecasts", IDTechEx explores high-performance GPUs used in AI data centers and cloud computing. This article shows the scale of deployments from NVIDIA and AMD for today's AI infrastructure, and highlights technology enablers and challenges of these AI chips.

This new IDTechEx report characterizes the quantum sensor market, key technologies, and players. Coverage across 20 quantum sensing technology areas, with applications of quantum sensors in electric vehicles, navigation, medical imaging, and quantum computing with market forecasts from 2026 to 2046. It reveals significant opportunity, with the quantum sensor market forecast to reach US$1.9bn by 2046.

The global market for supercapacitors has seen steady growth over the last decade due to niches in automotive, power grid, and industrial applications, and will continue to do so from 2026 to 2036, with an expected global market size of US$4.86 billion by 2036. The newly-released report from IDTechEx, "Supercapacitors 2026-2036: Technologies, Applications and Forecasts", offers in-depth independent analysis of this growing market.

The Li-ion battery recycling market is expanding rapidly through partnerships, funding, and new large-scale facilities using established recycling technologies to recover valuable materials. IDTechEx forecasts that the Li-ion battery recycling market will be valued at US$52B in 2045, but continued innovation and advancements in direct LIB recycling and battery-grade graphite recycling technologies will be crucial to realize this full value.

Webinar: Software Defined Vehicles: Central Compute, OTA Monetization & AI - Market Outlook to 2036 Presenter: Shihao Fu, Technology Analyst, IDTechEx Date: Thursday 21 August 2025 Can't attend live? Register anyway to receive the on-demand recording and presentation slides, available for a limited time.

Natural chemicals, machine learning that can advance enzyme engineering, and bioplastic food containers are just some of the benefits of sustainable chemical technology. This article covers some of the sustainable technologies of the future, explored in IDTechEx's research.

Achieving continuity and efficiency with biometrics and health data can be achieved with wearables. This article explores some of the main devices in the wearables market today including smart watches, and others which are emerging, such as smart gumshields.

This report provides an in-depth technical analysis of thermal interface materials (including TIM1/TIM2/TIM1.5) for EV batteries, power electronics, advanced semiconductor packaging, space and satellite technologies, data centers, EMI shielding, 5G, ADAS, and consumer electronics. 10-year granular area (m2), mass (kg), revenue (US$), and TIM unit price (US$) forecasts are given by application. The report covers recent developments in TIM fillers, high-performance TIMs, successful commercial uses, and historic TIM player acquisitions and partnerships. The report also identifies future TIM trends.

The global RFID market is set to continue its expansion in 2025. IDTechEx forecasts it to reach US$15.6 billion, up from US$15 billion in 2024. Looking further ahead, the market is expected to grow to US$23 billion by 2036. This article presents an overview of the RFID market outlook and regional trends, based on insights from the new report, "RFID 2026-2036: Forecasts, Players and Opportunities".

IDTechEx analyst Pranav Jaswani summarizes opportunities for additive materials in Lithium-ion batteries.

Semiconductors, co-packaged optics, and photonic integrated circuits are some of the research topics covered by IDTechEx showcasing the advancements being made in the semiconductor industry. This article explores some of the current trends and developments being made within the sector.

The audio industry may be on the verge of a technological revolution. For over a century, the operating principles of speakers have remained largely unchanged, but this article explores the emergence of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) speakers and how this paradigm shift could change the audio industry.

Gas sensors are poised to see increasing adoption in battery packs in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, with the battery pack gas sensor market expected to exceed US$157.1 million by 2036.

This new IDTechEx report provides insights into the global supercapacitor market, discussing three broad technology groups and segmented into seven market sectors.

Sustainable technologies are generating a record amount of interest across many sectors. This article covers the landscapes of green steel, green hydrogen, and the push for countries to achieve decarbonization goals.

Co-habiting or working alongside robots with humanlike capabilities may no longer be a thing of science-fiction. This article covers humanoid robots, collaborative robots, and vehicle autonomy, as well as the use of AI software within robotics.

IDTechEx estimates that the composite material market for green energy applications will reach US$78 billion by 2046.

High-performance rare earth magnets are set to remain critical materials in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and robotics applications, despite a climate of intensifying supply risks, price pressures and export restrictions. As new rare earth supply chains emerge across the USA, Europe and Asia, IDTechEx characterizes growth opportunities presented for rare earth magnet technologies - from separation and refining to magnet production and recycling.

Microplastics have emerged as a major environmental concern, prompting growing public awareness and increasing regulatory pressure. In response, industries are turning to innovative technologies and sustainable alternatives. IDTechEx explores global regulations and cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of this rapidly evolving space.

Webinar: Additives for Li-ion: The Critical but Overlooked Materials Shaping the Battery Industry Presenter: Pranav Jaswani, Technology Analyst, IDTechEx Date: Thursday 14 August 2025 Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times during the day.