With plastic production having grown to 502 million tonnes in 2024, while being expected to continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 2.6%, the need for a sustainable intervention is evident. This article covers the development of biobased plastics from renewable feedstocks as a step towards circularity.

Following decades of hype and false dawns, nanocarbons are now beginning to see substantial market adoption and growth. This article delves into the continued growth of the carbon nanotube market, which is set to exceed $1.25 billion by 20235. IDTechEx assesses the key applications driving the growth, and the leading players poised to take a significant market share.

Webinar: Emerging Materials and Decarbonization Applications for Gas Separation Membranes Presenter: Eve Pope, Senior Technology Analyst, IDTechEx Date: Tuesday 24 June Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times during the day.

Webinar Title: Carbon Nanotubes: On the Path to Commercial Success Date: Thursday 19 June 2025 Presenter: Dr Conor O'Brien, Senior Technology Analyst, IDTechEx Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times during the day.

Ion exchange membranes are emerging as critical materials in the transition to green energy. Emerging applications in hydrogen fuel cells, water electrolyzers, and redox flow batteries are expected to drive significant market growth through 2035.

In this article, IDTechEx analyzes two of the specialized materials needed in a fusion reactor: the plasma facing material and the breeder blanket. Their requirements, the critical raw materials needed, and possible disruptors to their supply chain are discussed, along with a market outlook for the fusion industry.

Key applications, both mature and emerging, for gas separation membranes include biogas upgrading, natural gas processing, carbon capture, and hydrogen separation. As gas separation membrane markets grow, start-ups seek to commercialize new membrane materials and composite structures.

Webinar: Unlock the Future of Materials R&D: How Materials Informatics is Revolutionizing Innovation Date: Wednesday 11 June 2025 Approximately 30 minutes Multiple sessions available

The aerogel market for energy and industrial applications has seen modest growth over the years, growing from US$224M in 2021 to an estimated US$348M in 2025. With increasing focus on energy savings and process efficiencies, this article by IDTechEx looks at how the aerogels market for energy and industrial applications will evolve over the next decade.

Surging battery demand is creating significant opportunities for raw material suppliers, particularly those adapting to battery-specific needs. Along the battery value chain, players are increasingly pursuing vertical integration strategies to capture greater value.

Self-healing materials have the ability to extend the lifespan of mission critical components such as energy storage devices, sensors and soft robotics. This article looks at some of the key materials developments, pain points and potential growth opportunities for self-healing materials in these emerging markets.

Materials informatics is reshaping the landscape of materials research and development, bringing the full power of the data revolution to science and engineering. By leveraging AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics, materials informatics is accelerating discovery, streamlining development, and opening entirely new pathways for innovation.

In this article, IDTechEx examines the impact of three major trends; one technology-focused, one regional, and one macroeconomic - on metal additive manufacturing. These trends include the dominance of powder bed fusion, the story of the Chinese metal AM market, and the impact of tariffs.

Manufacturing challenges and high costs have historically hindered the commercialization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). However, with recent advancements in MOF-based carbon capture technologies and a projected 50-fold increase in demand for MOFs in carbon capture by 2035, this article explores how these innovations are poised to shape the future of MOFs.

A German start-up has completed a test of an inflatable heat shield, the first European and first private such operation. Inflatable heat shields represent the cutting edge of thermal protection systems, potentially holding the key to truly low-cost and democratized access to space. What does this test mean for the industry?

Ion exchange membrane material design trends are evolving to meet the demands of emerging green hydrogen, carbon capture, and energy storage application growth markets. IDTechEx forecasts that membrane demand will exceed 5.3 million m² annually by 2035, with innovations in reinforced and PFAS-free materials shaping the next generation of ion exchange membranes.

Self-healing concrete aims to mitigate economic losses caused by corrosion and degradation of concrete, such as the need for repair or replacement, maintenance costs, and disruptions caused by downtime. Bacteria-based approaches are leading the way for self-healing concrete.

Tuesday 13 May 2025 - Are Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Ready for Large Scale Commercialization?; An overview of emerging MOF-based technologies approaching commercialization; Material choices and considerations for MOFs in key applications, such as carbon capture and water harvesting; Scaling MOF production for industrial applications; Market status and outlook for MOF demand based on IDTechEx forecasts

Thursday 15 May 2025 - How and Why the Ion Exchange Membrane Market Is Preparing for Growth in the Coming Next Decade; An overview of ion exchange membrane materials and their common applications; Key performance requirements and material development trends; Growth markets for ion exchange membrane technology; An overview of the state of the ion exchange membrane market in 2025 and IDTechEx's 10-year market outlook

In the past 5 years, the commercial perception of fusion energy has shifted considerably and is now increasingly seen as a key component of the green energy transition. But what factors led to this shift, and what does a realistic future for the fusion energy industry look like?