Advanced Materials

We have recently updated our analysis of the transparent conducting film (TCF) industry. This analysis is based upon a very close engagement with the community. We have interviewed and profiled more than 37 companies, innovators and end users, and have been closely following the industry for the past 4 years. In this article we will share with you our latest analysis of the industry.

Researchers at have developed a sensor made from graphene to detect molecules such as proteins and drugs.

The third in our series of articles on the graphene industry.

Cambridge Nanotherm is a hi-tech UK-based manufacturing SME company. It has proprietary patented technology for applying thermally conductive dielectric layer on 2D or 3D aluminium substrates. Nanotherm uses an electrochemical process which converts the surface of the aluminium sheet to alumina to give good bonding and low interfacial thermal resistance.

The second in our series of articles by leading players in the graphene industry, discusses progress with the use of graphene and graphene oxide in Li Sulphur batteries.

At IDTechEx we have invited a number of leading players in the graphene industry to write opinion pieces, reflecting on their produces, latest research, market insight, and commercialisation experience. We will be releasing these articles over the next few weeks.

Researchers have found a way to print three-dimensional structures with graphene nanoflakes.

In the study the new battery technology employs use of graphene on the silicon surface and that confers volume expansion leading to extended battery life.

A pioneering new technique to produce high-quality, low cost graphene could pave the way for the development of the first truly flexible 'electronic skin', that could be used in robots.

Researchers have developed a new approach for forming 3D shapes from flat, 2D sheets of graphene, paving the way for future integrated systems of graphene-MEMS hybrid devices and flexible electronics.

We have recently updated our analysis of the graphene and 2D materials industry. This analysis is based upon a very close engagement with the community. We have interviewed and profiled more than 40 companies, innovators and end users. We have organised six international conferences and tradeshows on graphene, and have advised many clients in formulating their graphene strategy vis-à-vis graphene. In this article we will share with you our latest analysis of the industry. Herein we will share with you our slides covering the following: - Our general observations about the market - Analysis of the latest trends including the rise of China, patent/publication trends and increase in the number of suppliers - Investment and revenue by supplier - CNT and graphene production capacity by player - Benchmarking of suppliers - Application pipeline - Intelligence on existing products

The photovoltaic industry remains a major end user of printed electronics. In this article, we will provide a detailed cost breakdown of the wafer-based silicon photovoltaic cells, showing that Ag and Al metallization continue to constitute a major cost element of the overall PV cell even though the manufacturers make to zero margin. We will then investigate some of the trends in Ag metallization before commenting on silicon inks, which at one point appeared to be the technology that increased efficiency but were leapfrogged by progress in metallization pastes.

GrafenTek is a very early stage company based in Istanbul, Turkey. GrafenTek is working on silicon-graphene composites for Li ion batteries.

Back in 2014, we witnessed the launch of the first displays deposited on flexible substrates, and the first efforts to encapsulate them. There are significant differences in the encapsulation techniques utilized by each of the companies commercializing flexible electronics. These differences signify the variety of technologies available, in terms of deposition as well as material options for the barrier films, some of which are discussed in this article

Each year IDTechEx Research releases its up-to-date market report on graphene and related materials: Graphene and 2D Materials: Markets, Technologies and Opportunities 2015-2025.

Quantum dots are making some serious inroads in the display industry. This was very apparent at SID Display Week this month, where several quantum dot LCD panels were showcased. Is this the technology that will beat OLED in the TV market? Maybe, but some questions still need to be answered.

Immersion are aleading company in the haptics space, holding over 1900 patents and spanning over 22 years of experience. This profile release represents a broad update including latest news and financials from FY2015 and early 2016.

Pulse Electronics provides electronic component design and manufacturing. It offers a catalog of products as well as custom capabilities, supplying electronic components to OEMs, contract manufacturers and consumer electronic manufacturers. The company is now private but was formerly listed on the NYSE. It has annual sales of approximately $400 million. The company makes about 5% of all the antennas made for smart phones, routers and other consumer electronics wireless equipment. This activity was gained through acquisition including parts of Nokia's antenna business. It has now developed equipment, known as "fluidANT" that can print antennas on 3D substrate

Ultrahaptics are a UK startup developing projected ultrasonic haptic actuators. Their solution enables touchless haptic feedback, using arrays of ultrasonic speakers to generate sound wave fields that can be felt by the user.

AIST, and others have developed a technology that dramatically improves the long-term stability of the conductivity of transparent conductive films that use carbon nanotubes.