Soldering technology is thousands of years old, but is still an essential component in electronics assembly, without which none of our advanced electronic devices would function. Though the soldering process has seen some refinement in modern times, it is still accomplished by heating the soldering metal alloy to its molten state and applying the metal hot at contact points to create a conductive solder joint.

In a new study, scientists find that holes can improve technology, including medical devices. The study describes an entirely new way to make a solar cell: by etching holes in the top layer to make it porous. The innovation could form the basis for a less-invasive pacemaker, or similar medical devices. It could be paired with a small light source to reduce the size of the bulky batteries that are currently implanted along with today's pacemakers.

Studies have linked chronic lack of sleep to physical ailments, such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as mental health issues. Those interested in getting a better handle on what's happening to them at night have two primary options. They can take a sleep test conducted in a medical facility, or they can use an app through a smartphone or smart watch — a much more convenient, but less accurate choice. Recognizing the need, many groups have begun developing new sleep monitoring systems using triboelectric nanogenerators.

Scientists have developed a stretchable and waterproof 'fabric' that turns energy generated from body movements into electrical energy.

Perfectly imperfect - that is the technology landscape in metal 3D printing boiled down. Through an extensive benchmarking study, IDTechEx has asked the question: where are metal additive manufacturing technologies going, and where are the whitespaces for advancement in the metal AM landscape?

Commercializing a new material is not easy. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are the higher-performance variants of the carbon nanotube family, but unlike their multi-walled counterpart, they are still hunting for their killer application.

Last summer, Northwestern University researchers introduced the first-ever transient pacemaker — a fully implantable, wireless device that harmlessly dissolves in the body after it's no longer needed. Now, they unveil a new, smart version that is integrated into a coordinated network of soft, flexible, wireless, wearable sensors and control units placed around the upper body.

Researchers, using a new antireflection coating, have successfully increased the efficiency of the best four-junction solar cell to date from 46.1 to 47.6 percent at a concentration of 665 suns. This is a global milestone, as there is currently no solar cell with a higher efficiency worldwide.

This cutting-edge panel technology creates an awe-inspiring holographic effect that makes the digital art pieces appear to be floating mid-air, for an immersive media experience.

Thursday 9 June 2022 - What is CO2 utilization and how is CO2 converted into useful products? What is the current state of the CO2U market? What are the key drivers and hurdles for CO2U market growth? What is the CO2U market outlook for the next 20 years?

The self-powered fabric was developed using triboelectric nanogenerators, which use movement to collect the energy needed to power the posture monitoring sensors. The data collected by the sensors is processed by an integrated machine learning algorithm that can provide immediate feedback, alerting the wearer when they need to adjust their posture.

This premium article explores the Canadian Printed Electronics Symposium 2022 event, held from 17th to 18th May in Canada, but attended virtually by IDTechEx. This article delves into the most interesting and commercially relevant presentations from the event, including presentations by Sun Chemical and Henkel.

COVID-19 testing at point of care peaked in Q1 2022. Is testing waning? What is COVID-19's lasting effect on point-of-care testing?

A team of researchers from the UK and Japan has found that the tiny defects which limit the efficiency of perovskites - cheaper alternative materials for solar cells - are also responsible for structural changes in the material that lead to degradation.

The Renewable Materials Conference 2022 combines the three renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials: recycling, bio- and CO2-based. The three-day event was hosted by the nova-Institute in Cologne, Germany, and was attended by over 400 visitors. Suppliers of raw materials, refiners, and chemical/materials manufacturers and experts in the industry presented the progress and latest insights into recycling, bio-based materials, and carbon dioxide utilization. Challenges to the industry and opportunities were discussed in depth throughout presentations and panel discussions, and several key themes emerged from the conference. Many attendees represented brand owners, looking to replace their current materials in products and packaging with renewable alternatives. In this article, IDTechEx explores themes that emerged from this conference, and discusses the technologies presented.

Imagine this: A smooth touchscreen display placed on top of a thin silicone polymer film suddenly generates the feeling of a tiny raised button under the user's finger. Or how about the idea of wearing that same polymer film like a second skin? If used to line an industrial glove, the film can provide valuable feedback by gesture recognition and by sending tactile signals, such as pulses or vibrations, to the wearer.

Evonik is selling the TAeTTOOz materials technology for printable rechargeable batteries to the InnovationLab GmbH. The InnovationLab specializes in the development of printed and organic electronics and offers individual overall solutions from the first concept draft to the industrial production.

This premium article explores the Commercialising Quantum event, an Economist Impact event held on 17th May 2022 in London. This particular article will focus on hardware, with others outlining software companies and end users.

This premium article delves into the Commercializing Quantum conference, an Economist Impact event held on 17th May 2022 in London. It will look into contributions regarding quantum computing from end users across three sectors: pharmaceutical, automotive, and financial.

Borrowing a technique from inkjet printers, researchers have rolled out a pixel-by-pixel method to program and manufacture soft structures for use in robotics, biomedical devices or architectural features.