IDTechEx

Electric vehicle range extenders: leaving piston engines behind

This article shares some of the research in the new IDTechEx report, "Range Extenders for Electric Vehicles Land, Water & Air 2013-2023" which covers all such vehicles, on land, on/under water and airborne.

Beneq

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has the potential to provide effective moisture barrier at low cost. Beneq is the leading the development of roll-to-roll ALD, which is more suitable for flexible susbtrates. However, the technology is not mature yet.

IDTechEx announces 3D Printing LIVE

IDTechEx is pleased to announce its inaugural event 3D Printing LIVE which is taking place in Santa Clara CA on November 20-21 2013.

Carbon nanotubes for transparent conductive films

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of multiple technology options for making transparent conductive films (TCFs). Similar to graphene, there are many different types of CNTs and many production techniques. The main processes are arc discharge, laser ablation and chemical vapour deposition (CVD); while the main types are single, double or multi-wall, and semiconducting and metallic. This article assesses the latest progress with using CNTs as transparent conductive films. IDTechEx outlines the latest improvements in performance, manufacturing processes and cost. It identifies key players globally and discusses their business models and progress with commercialisation. Where appropriate, it makes reference to competing technology options such metal mesh, silver nanowires, graphene, PEDOT:PSS, etc. This article provides a realistic assessment and insight into the fortunes of carbon nanotubes in the future of the fast changing transparent conductive film industry.

Winners in traction power appear first in buses?

Large electric vehicles are not sold on up-front price but on performance and cost over life. They are mainly bought by government including local government, the military and with government funding of others. Innovation is therefore usually first seen in large electric vehicles.

ClearJet Ltd

Clear-jet has developed a technology for creating pre-patterned transparent conductive films using specially-formulated inkjet printed silver nanoparticles. The technology is based on the so-called 'coffee stain' effect and promises to simplify the value chain by combining the deposition and patterning steps in one-go.

XinNano Materials Inc

XinNano Materials Inc is a Taiwanese supplier of CVD CNT powders and inks. They have traditionally supplied into the X-ray and field-emission display markets, but are now in the processing of diversifying into the touch sensor markets where their CNTs can be used to produce transparent conductive films.

Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC)

Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC) launched a silver nanoparticle ink in 2009. XRCC has since scaled up its production capacity and is now tailoring its inks for a range of printing techniques (inkjet, gravure, flexo, aerosol, etc) and customer requirements.

Genes'Ink

Genes'Ink is a young and small French company synthesizing and formulating silver and ZnO nanoparticle inks. They have a small production chamber. A key ability is their synthesis and formulation know-how, which can be applied to a range of materials.

Supercapacitors gain ascendancy

Life is good for supercapacitors manufacturers and developers.

The rise of mobile phone indoor positioning systems

This article shares some of the research in the new IDTechEx report, "Mobile Phone Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS) and Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) 2013-2023"

Panasonic

Provider of OLED lighting modules

Oxide semiconductors - where do they fit?

This article summaries some of the technology and market analysis from the IDTechEx research report "Metal Oxide TFT Backplanes for Displays 2013-2018: Analysis, Trends, Forecasts".

Silver nanowires as transparent conductive materials

In this article series, IDTechEx Research will critically examine the various technology options that are emerging to serve as transparent conductive films. IDTechEx will provide a detailed briefing on the technology attributes and manufacturing processes. IDTechEx will then offer a critical SWOT analyses and examine the current and future uses of the technology. Finally, IDTechEx will offer a briefing on key players commercialising the technology. IDTechEx Research will start by examining silver nanowires and will then continue with graphene, carbon nanotubes, micro-fine, metal mesh and PDOT:PSS.

Zytronic Displays Limited

Zytronic Displays Limited is providing touch solutions (sensors and drive/sense electronics) based on a micro wire grid concept. Their target markets are medium-sized ATMs, game consoles, industrial units, etc. Their products are durable and robustest and they currently occupy a healthy market niche.

Energy storage for consumer electronics - a $33 bn market landscape

Tablet and smart phone sales reached 116 million and 675 million units in 2012, exhibiting a year-to-year growth of 43 and 94%, respectively. In contrast, desktop sales have declined. The market message is clear: consumers are demanding fully portable devices. This translates into a large and growing market opportunity for energy storage devices.

Energy harvesting and storage technologies in rail transit

In this article we will briefly look at implementations in the rail transit sector, and the kind of technologies that are making their way onto trains, railways and waysides in order to reduce power consumption, maintenance costs and reliability of train services.

Home 3D printing - the health and safety opportunity

Readers may have noticed over the past day or two an epidemic of web-articles concerning a soon-to-be-published paper authored by the Institute of Technology in Chicago and the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon relating to emissions from desktop 3D printers.

Printed Electronics USA exhibits nears sell-out: space expanded by 30%

Printed Electronics USA, the American event forming part of the global IDTechEx event series on the topic, has neared sell-out for exhibition space four months prior to the event.

Applications of stretchable electronics

Stretchable electronics has been one of the least exploited but most researched sectors of the new electronics over the past decade. To find out more read the IDTechEx research report "Stretchable Electronics Comes to Market".