Advanced Materials

Innovation map of silicon anode material designs.

The e-fuels sector stands at a critical juncture in its evolution from laboratory innovation and demonstration projects to industrial-scale production. While significant progress has been made in technology development and market interest, evidenced by substantial corporate investments and supportive policy frameworks, considerable challenges remain.

Smart High Tech (SHT) is a listed company based in Gothenburg, Sweden, specializing in advanced thermal management solutions using graphene technology. It focuses on developing high-performance thermal interface materials (TIMs) that enhance heat dissipation in various applications, including electronics, automotive, and telecommunications.

Soitec is a French manufacturer of engineered substrates and designer of semiconductor materials in the microelectronics industry.

With so many PFAS in use worldwide, it is unsurprising that PFAS contamination has become a global issue impacting human and environmental health. Extensive remediation efforts will need to be conducted to deal with such widespread PFAS contamination, which will cost a significant amount of money. IDTechEx estimates that global expenditure on PFAS treatment for municipal drinking water alone will reach US$2.3 billion in 2035.

IDTechEx attended the PFAS Workshop on September 10, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. This premium article provides a summary of the event and key takeaways.

Orion Polymer is an ion exchange membrane (IEM) material manufacturer based in Saratoga Springs, New York. Orion Polymer specializes in the design of hydrocarbon ion exchange membranes for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzer technologies. IDTechEx spoke with Chulsung Bae (CEO/Founder), Cathryn Olsen (COO), and Greg Kline (CTO).

As quantum computing capabilities are becoming more sophisticated, so has engagement from research institutions and supercomputing centers who are investing tens of millions for on-premises installations of the latest machines. So, as pressure mounts on quantum computing to continue showing it is on track to provide a return on investment from governments and private ventures alike - what are the crucial next steps?

Industrial Internet of Things sensor technology (IIoT) seeks to enable greater industrial automation, improved worker safety, and streamlined maintenance planning. From cameras, LiDAR, and radar for machine vision in robotics, to skin patches and miniaturized gas sensors in smart personal protection equipment, emerging IIoT applications present growth opportunities for a variety of sensor technologies.

Innovation map covering upcoming regulations to force OEMs to sell more EVs in Europe or pay fines.

Many will be aware of the concerns around rare earth materials, such as price volatility and environmental impact. One way to alleviate concerns is by adopting magnetic materials that do not contain rare earths. Based on IDTechEx's latest research report on "Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2025-2035: Technologies, Materials, Markets, and Forecasts", this article will cover some of the most promising alternatives and their trade-offs.

Friday 13 December 2024 - Building Towards Net-Zero: Which Technologies Can Decarbonize Cement? Discussion of key drivers and barriers for cement sector decarbonization, including stimulating public sector and private sector demand; Benchmarking the most impactful cement decarbonization technologies over the coming decade (leading supplementary cementitious materials, biomass-based fuels, waste-derived fuels, and CCUS), alongside emerging cement decarbonization technologies (new cement production processes and materials, kiln electrification, concentrated solar power, hydrogen); Contextualizing the impact of cement decarbonization technologies in 2035 within global progress towards net-zero by 2050

Samsung Electronics is a global electronics firm with headquarters in Korea. Its memory business manufactures and sells memory and storage products (e.g. NAND and DRAM).

Shenzhen FRD Science and Technology Co., Ltd is a leading provider of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and thermal interface materials. At iThermConf 2024, IDTechEx briefly discussed FRD's thermal interface materials.

Conductivity is a hot topic within the conductive inks sector, with a wide variation of requirements for it differing by application. The low current of capacitive touch sensors and the need for resistance in PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heaters means the conductivity requirement for these applications is low. On the other hand, power electronics stand at the far end of the spectrum, with high conductivity required for high efficiency and optimum results.

Fujifilm is a multinational technology provider, supplying products and services within healthcare (medical systems, biopharmaceuticals), electronics (semiconductor materials, display materials), and imaging (consumer imaging and professional imaging) sectors. Fujifilm has been developing ion exchange materials over the last decade, manufacturing anion and cation exchange membranes for drinking water production and waste water treatment. IDTechEx spoke with Mert Colakoglu, New Business Development Manager, regarding Fujifilm's recent decision to terminate membrane material activities at its site in Tilburg, Netherlands.

As global populations rise and more regions urbanize, cutting back on construction isn't a viable decarbonization strategy. Leading cement decarbonization technologies, including supplementary cementitious materials, alternative fuels, and carbon capture, will avoid an additional 422 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, in the cement sector over the coming decade.

Thursday 19 December 2024 - What is quantum computing, and what is the state of the industry?; How is the industry evolving as commercialisation ramps up?; How do scalability challenges vary between quantum computing modalities?; What are some key updates from major players in the eco-system from 2024?; Which trends can be expected in the quantum computing market in 2025 and beyond?

Micron is a US-based company that designs, develops, and manufactures memory and storage products for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads in data centers, edge applications, client PC, mobile devices, etc.

Inteva Products is an automotive supplier specializing in engineered components like interior systems, roof systems, and closures, with a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation. The company prioritizes eco-friendly materials and lightweight designs to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact in the automotive industry.