Research Articles

Stationary fuel cells and green hydrogen production have been two main points of interest under the hydrogen umbrella, with the rise of decarbonization and sustainable energy trends making way for innovations within the renewable energy sector. This article explores some of the latest developments within the hydrogen sector.

IDTechEx's Sensors report provides extensive analysis of the global sensor market, including 58 company profiles and insights collected from over 20 related sensor reports. Summarizing IDTechEx's extensive sensors report portfolio, this research contains over 35 sensor technology SWOT analyses, 24 technology readiness level roadmaps, material requirements and supplier information across future mobility, IoT, wearables, biomedical, edge computing, environmental sensing and more.

IDTechEx covers the microplastic problem; how governments are beginning to address it; and solutions to remove microplastics pollution.

Transmission losses become increasingly significant as communication systems move toward higher frequencies, making low-loss materials essential to preserve signal strength and integrity. These materials are critical for technologies such as 5G mmWave and future 6G telecommunications which is expected to see deployment around 2030, as well as for automotive radar systems for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Similarly, data center infrastructure is shifting toward ultra-high data rates exceeding 200Gbps amplifying the need for materials that can perform reliably and maintain signal integrity under such demanding conditions.

Join Senior Technology Analyst Mika Takahashi on Thursday 27th November for a new webinar sharing insights on what the telecoms industry should learn from the 5G rollout, to ensure 6G is a success from day one. Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times during the day.

The redox flow battery market has seen significant growth in the past two years, led predominantly by key player Rongke Power. However, several opportunities are also being grasped by other players, be this in the emerging applications for RFBs, commercialization of cheaper RFB technologies, and new programs to incentivize RFBs and LDES.

Trade restrictions put in place by China in 2025 have made securing rare earth materials more challenging for the rest of the world. This article discusses the routes to reducing or eliminating rare earth materials in electric motors for electric vehicles in light of these restrictions.

This webinar on Tuesday 25th November, presented by IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst Conrad Nichols, will discuss thermal management and fire prevention trends for battery energy storage systems (BESS). Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times during the day.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells will see uptake in a range of mobility and stationary applications, with specific technology trends for the individual fuel cell components. This article introduces these constituent components, and the associated trends seen in the market.

IDTechEx's research encompasses a wide range of existing innovative technologies with the potential to decarbonize the planet. However, costs are generally higher compared with the fossil fuel status quo. Creative market mechanisms are needed, unlocking green technologies for buyers across a wide range of sectors and geographies.

As advanced electrification increases across many major sectors, including automotives and electronics, new trends and innovations are increasingly notable within the battery industry. This article covers multiple additives and advanced sensing technologies for batteries.

The need for sustainability within computing has never been so prevalent, with artificial intelligence, large language models, and high-performance computing requiring energy intensive processes that are contributing to increased carbon emissions. This article explores sustainability trends within the sector.

Microplastics have emerged as a major environmental concern, prompting growing public awareness and increasing regulatory pressure. In response, industries are turning to biodegradable polymer alternatives. In this article, IDTechEx explores whether biodegradable plastics can address microplastic pollution.

IDTechEx explores the outlook and uses for advanced coatings in electric vehicles.

Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are composed of thermal fillers and matrix materials. The choice of thermal filler materials, geometries, and loading percentages can greatly impact not only the thermal properties of TIMs but also other aspects such as cost, dielectric strength, compressibility, and viscosity. This article shares more about some common thermal fillers, pros and cons of different fillers, and market trends,.

Ascend Elements, a major US-based Li-ion battery recycler and refiner, has announced a multi-year offtake agreement for lithium carbonate with Trafigura, a major global commodities supplier. This signals a significant development in lithium material supply chains - IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst Conrad Nichols spoke exclusively to Ascend Elements CEO Linh Austin.

As radio frequency front ends extend into Ka band (about 26.5-40 GHz) and data center networks advance toward co packaged optics, engineered low loss glass substrates valued for high resistivity, dimensional stability, and compatibility with through glass via interconnects are emerging as an integration platform for antenna in package modules and optical electrical co design alike.

Join IDTechEx Technology Analyst John Li for this 30-minute webinar on Tuesday 18th November, which will summarize the current market landscape concerning the wide bandgap semiconductors SiC and GaN and other EV power electronics market trends.

IDTechEx analyst Daniel Parr compares the energy and power density for supercapacitors to other energy storage devices; covers how supercapacitors work; and compares different types of supercapacitors.

Amine solvents are the leading technologies for post-combustion capture, but innovation is ongoing. In this article, IDTechEx explores technologies and markets for post-combustion capture.

New sustainability innovations and trends are ever emerging under the decarbonization umbrella, evident amongst a number of material sectors. This article explores next-generation feedstocks, speciality chemicals, and the production of green steel.

3D printing as an industry is seeing increased attention for its versatility and convenience. This article covers metal additive manufacturing and the scope for its diversity and flexibility within the sector.

Across the global autonomous vehicle landscape, commercial trucks are emerging as one of the first segments to reach true-scale deployment. in China, the pace of adoption has accelerated dramatically: trucks equipped with assisted driving systems now collectively log over one million kilometers every day. To gain deeper insights into this rapid transformation, Shihao Fu, an analyst specializing in autonomous driving at IDTechEx, recently visited Inceptio Technology, a leading Chinese autonomous trucking company.

'Robotics' takes on many different forms today. This article explores the way cars could pre-empt a driver's needs and make coffee-stop decisions en route, to humanoid robots operating in warehouses and cobots assisting humans in production lines.

In this article, IDTechEx Technology Analyst Noah El Alami explores the leading candidates for early commercial use cases of quantum computers. Chemistry simulations, optimization, and cybersecurity all have potential, but what will be the "killer app"?

Increased efficiency and flexibility are two increasingly desirable qualities of photovoltaics, and the implementation of new materials and form factors could reshape the landscape of solar energy. This article covers developments in thin-film photovoltaic technology and the adoption of new materials like perovskites.

In electric vehicle (EV) batteries, coatings play a critical role in enhancing performance, safety and longevity. This article highlights the latest technologies, developments, applications and outlook for advanced coatings in EV battery applications. Fire protection, dielectric insulation, corrosion protection and thermally conductive coatings are all covered.

The market for remote battery monitoring is expected to continue to grow over the next decade, fueled by demand from mobility and energy storage system managers. This trend is tied to increasing interest in wireless battery management systems (wBMSs) to save on wiring costs and reduce battery pack complexity, though the majority of the market will continue to be made up of wired BMSs using gateways to convert to wireless communications protocols.

Building a hydrogen economy is widely considered to be an essential part of global decarbonization. Green hydrogen could play an important role in mitigating environmental impacts and support the transition to a cleaner energy system. This article explores emerging applications and electrolyzer technologies.

IDTechEx analyst Noah El Alami covers the eight different technology approaches to building a quantum computer, and discusses "Quantum as a Service" (QaaS).

Graphene has been discussed as a wonder material that will unlock the next-generation technologies seen in sci-fi movies. This article explores why these advances have not been seen, the tangible success that graphene has shown in consumer electronics and a look to the potential role of graphene in the next iteration of batteries.

Quantum technologies are a growing phenomenon, bringing new levels of sensitivity and intelligence to sensing and modern-day problem solving within some of the largest industries, and generating extremely high valued assets as a result. This article explores quantum sensors and quantum computing and some of the recent developments within the sectors.

Join IDTechEx critical materials expert Dr Jack Howley on Thursday 6th November for the webinar 'Critical Material Recovery from Waste: Trends, Technologies, and 20-Year Growth Outlook'. Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times during the day.

Thermal management technologies are an integral part of systems within a number of sectors, ensuring optimized performance and safety. This article covers some of the thermal management techniques used in data centers and semiconductors.

Within the growing market for motors for EVs, there are trends around motor technology and topology, power and torque density, materials utilization, and thermal management. The new IDTechEx report "Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2026-2036: Technologies, Materials, Markets, and Forecasts" addresses these trends within the markets for battery-electric or hybrid cars, vans, trucks, buses, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and microcars, with OEM use-cases, benchmarking, and granular market forecasts.

Accessing health metrics during any hour of the day is becoming the new norm as wearable technology is gaining traction and becoming increasingly widespread. This article covers some of the most popular wearable types alongside some newer, emerging applications.