Advanced Materials

The humanoid robotics industry is transitioning from prototype development and demonstrations toward structured pilot deployments and early commercial adoption. Materials such as metal alloys, rare-earth permanent magnets, engineering plastics and composites underpin the critical components of humanoid robots, as found in the new IDTechEx market report "Materials for Humanoid Robots 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts".

The conductive ink market relies heavily on silver as the conductive element of the ink. With sharply increasing silver prices, alternative inks are coming to the market including low-silver, copper and carbon inks.

Printed and flexible electronics is a diverse sector, accommodating a variety of technologies and applications from flexible batteries and conductive inks to photovoltaics. This article covers wearables, consumer electronics, and energy.

Hip and knee replacement is the largest market segment in orthopedic implants. This article discusses the key determinants of the market value, including demographics (aging population) and pricing. The global market for hip and knee replacement implants will approach US$34 billion by 2036.

The desired use of graphene and carbon nanotubes in additive applications for their high-conductive qualities qualify them as some of the most promising advanced materials. This article covers next-generation technologies and predictions for increased growth.

At Innovation Zero 2026, IDTechEx spoke with multiple companies aiming to prove that an increasing demand for food, clothing, and plastics worldwide might not need to take such a heavy toll on the planet with the development of circular economies.

Helium is a finite resource and critical for several applications, including semiconductor manufacturing. With Qatar producing a third of the world's helium supply, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has created a major supply chain bottleneck for industries critically reliant on helium. This article from IDTechEx looks at the critical role of helium in the semiconductor industry, Qatar's position in the helium supply chain, and what this means for semiconductor manufacturing. The article also discusses alternatives for helium supply and potential mitigation strategies.

New generations of wireless networks are typically introduced every 10 years. With 6G rollout expected to commence around 2030, material development is well underway to meet the requirements of next generation of telecommunication technologies. While the 5G rollout is in progress, this article looks to the future of 6G and the ongoing development of low-loss materials to support it.

From materials that withstand extreme temperatures, to pristine graphene sheets and high-value critical materials, this article covers advanced coatings, graphene, and critical material recovery.