IDTechEx have released their latest report on haptics, projecting that the industry will grow from $3.6bn in 2020 to nearly $5bn per year by 2025.

Researchers have reported that fabric coated with a conductive, two-dimensional material called MXene, is highly effective at blocking electromagnetic waves and potentially harmful radiation. The discovery is a key development for efforts to weave technological capabilities into clothing and accessories.

There is an increasing need to prevent thermal runaway in electric vehicle batteries. There is also the increasing amount of regulation (with more anticipated) and a wide range of designs. This is all with increasingly energy dense cells and more demands with ultra-fast charging.

Together with Schreiner MediPharm and PragmatIC Semiconductor, Avery Dennison is leveraging NFC technology to extend smart packaging to the unit-level for everyday pharma in order to significantly improve patient safety and experiences.

This IDTechEx Premium article covers some of the highlights from the presentations at the IMAPS-UK Thermal Management Online Conference event including presentations on electric vehicles, thermal interface materials and industrial power electronics.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the 3D printing sector and its end users (such as printing bureaus), new directions of travel have nonetheless emerged. Some opportunities have even been directly prompted by the pandemic.

Graphene is a 2D sheet of carbon but this term has been consistently confused, particularly at commercial levels with companies looking to leverage the marketing value.

A team of researchers has developed a flexible, rechargeable silver oxide-zinc battery with a five to 10 times greater areal energy density than state of the art. The battery also is easier to manufacture; while most flexible batteries need to be manufactured in sterile conditions, under vacuum, this one can be screen printed in normal lab conditions. The device can be used in flexible, stretchable electronics for wearables as well as soft robotics.

We are looking for entrepreneurial, enthusiastic people to join IDTechEx to apply their technical knowledge. You will be involved with technology scouting, market research and consultancy in a rapidly growing, exciting, global firm.

Terahertz is the new frontier. electronic devices conventionally operate at Hz, kHz, MHz - and even GHz frequencies - but struggle when it comes to THz frequencies.

Smart cities are now much more ambitious. That means new materials are their biggest enabler, with information and computer technology dropping to an important support role.

Printed/flexible electronics is extremely well suited to wearable skin patches due to its low weight, flexibility/conformality, and potential for high-throughput, low-cost manufacturing of these disposable items.

Digital water networks are beginning to see an increase in interest as the hype around these systems grows.

Despite the promise of and the commercial interest in FHE, some technological challenges remain. One of the most important is developing the ability to robustly attach mounted components to flexible substrates, given the substantial difference in mechanical and thermal properties.

Does science have a responsibility to be sustainable? The Graphene Flagship, one of the European Commission's biggest research projects, is working to bring graphene out of labs and into society. But, what kind of impact will graphene have on daily life?

The list of advanced materials that could benefit society in the next 30 years is effectively infinite. They will serve megatrends such as zero emissions, healthcare on the move and the greying of the population.

IDTechEx have released a brand new report, "Smart Cities Emerging Materials Markets 2021-2041" - a comprehensive analysis of multifunctional smart materials, bioplastics, structural electronics, composites, 3D printing, graphene, 2D and 3D molecules, 5G, 6G, IOT, new recycling.

In this premium article IDTechEx discuss three exciting emerging applications of printed/flexible electronics, including multiple case studies.

This article summarizes and highlights some of the critical 5G developments and news in 2020.

An alternative to batteries, micro-supercapacitors are energy storage devices that can complement or replace lithium-ion batteries in wearable devices. Micro-supercapacitors have a small footprint, high power density, and the ability to charge and discharge quickly.