TyroMotion GmbH (AT)

First self-powered artificial retina

The Natcore retina comprises an array of carbon nanotubes, grown vertically on a substrate. The nanotubes are coated with a semiconducting material, in effect wrapping a solar cell around them, with the tips of the nanotubes exposed and arranged to extend into the ganglion nerves.

Scientists calculate the energy required to store wind and solar power

Renewable energy holds the promise of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. But there are times when solar and wind farms generate more electricity than is needed by consumers.

Microbial power storage shows it can do the job

New results have proven that certain microorganisms are capable of producing natural gas under industrial conditions.

Spider silk turned into electrical wire for medical devices

Scientists have created microscopic wires out of spider silk that can conduct electricity.

Free Webinar - OLED Lighting

IDTechEx will be hosting a free webinar 'Market Opportunities and Technology Developments for OLED Lighting' on Tuesday 24 September and we would be delighted if you could join us.

Developing nanowires for solar cells

The next generation of solar cells may be flexible, transparent and more energy efficient.

China sets caps for rare earths exploration

The Ministry of Land and Resources announced on Thursday the maximum amount of rare earths for the exploration has been set at 93,800 metric tons for 2013.

Printed Electronics in Korea

IDTechEx has spent almost two weeks in Korea visiting executives at leading companies and attending conferences. Company profiles will be given in the Market Intelligence Portal over the coming weeks. In this article we summarise some of our observations from the country.

Printed Electronics in Japan (part II)

In this second report based on 35 company visits and our conference in Tokyo, July through September 2013, we look at some more trends identified.

Physicists develop polymer with tunable colours

y inserting platinum atoms into an organic semiconductor physicists were able to "tune" the plastic-like polymer to emit light of different colors - a step toward more efficient, less expensive and truly white organic LEDs for light bulbs of the future.

Russia to invest $1 billion in rare earths to cut dependence on China

Reuters reports that Russia will invest $1 billion in rare earths production by 2018 in a bid to become less dependent on China, which controls more than 90 percent of global supply of the elements used in sectors including defense, telecommunications and renewable energy - including hybrid and electric vehicles.

Intense study of Printed Electronics in Japan

IDTechEx has just completed an intense study of Printed Electronics in Japan involving 35 visits to companies and institutions there and interviews and lectures at the IDTechEx Printed Electronics Asia event there.

Thermoelectric energy harvesting in Japan

The Japanese are working very hard on thermoelectric energy harvesting from tiny forms for use on hot running electronics components the 1.5 kW versions for use on furnace flues etc.

Meggitt A/S

Meggitt A/S is located in Denmark and is part of Meggitt PLC, a FTSE 100 global engineering company with annual sales of £1.6 billion. They own and develop InSensor, a technology based on thick film piezoelectric ceramics. They use screen-printing to make various piezoelectric devices in sensing and energy harvesting. One particularly successful device made with InSensor is an ultrasonic transceivers for medical imaging.

TempTime Corporation

Temptime has an extensive range of time-temperature indicators (TTI) that change color to signal the occurrence of a potentially damaging heat or freeze event, allowing the user to determine whether or not the product should be used. The company's cumulative heat indicator has been hugely successful in the Healthcare market.

Beneq and Mordovia State University open joint ALD laboratory

Mordovia State University officially opened a laboratory to research and study thin-film technologies (100 nm and less) using atomic layer deposition (ALD) with Beneq's TFS 200 equipment.

Optomec announces 100% bookings growth in first half 2013

Optomec, a supplier of additive manufacturing systems for 3D Printed Metals and Printed Electronics, has announced financial results for its First Half ending June 30, 2013.

Smart mobility and the role of SMEs

Successful SMEs will share their insights into emerging opportunities in intelligent transport systems (ITS) at the INTRASME Smart Mobility Market Opportunity Workshop in Turin, Italy on the 25th September.

Roads could power cars across Europe

Electric car development is primarily focused on fuel efficiency, and until recently, researchers have been seeking answers under the bonnet. But a team at KTH Royal Institute of Technology is looking a little lower.

Research creates new opportunities from waste heat

Physicists at the University of Houston's (UH) physics department and the Texas Center for Superconductivity are working on an innovation that could boost vehicle mileage by 5 percent and power plant and industrial processing performance as much as 10 percent.