Advanced Materials

Copper has been used in cars for as long as vehicles have had electrically powered features. Its main use today is as the vehicle's central nervous system, connecting a network of sensors, actuators, displays, and more to the vehicle's ECU brains. As cars evolve and utilize more electronic components, the demand for wiring will inevitably increase.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.