Direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies will be critical in achieving fast, efficient, and sustainable lithium production in order to meet battery demand. This article highlights the different types of DLE technology, how they compare to each other, and which technologies are anticipated to see greater market uptake.

The emergence of 5G and 6G telecommunications, along with the rise of data center demand and advanced automotive radar systems, is presenting a need for low-loss materials to optimize transmission. This article explores how low-loss materials can prevent transmission losses associated with higher sensitivities and frequencies.

IDTechEx's new report "Batteries for Construction, Agriculture, & Mining Machines 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts" provides a deep-dive into the fast-growing markets for electric machinery in the off-highway industries of construction, agriculture, and mining. This includes critical insights into battery requirements for the diverse range of machines, which technologies can meet these requirements, detailed supply chain analysis, and granular 10-year forecasts which outline the growth of off-highway battery demand to reach 45 GWh by 2036.

2026 is an exciting time for smart glasses, with several products expected to be launched from big tech players later this year, which will follow Meta's release of the Ray-Ban Display launched in September 2025. The optics required to give AI smart glasses augmented reality (AR) capabilities are called waveguides and are positioned within the eyepiece. There have been several key developments to waveguide technology which are enabling AR smart glasses which are lightweight, have longer battery life, and have a fashionable form factor. IDTechEx forecasts 35 million AR smart glasses to be sold annually by 2036.

Higher rates of critical material recovery are crucial to insulating supply chains from the introduction of export controls on highly geographically localised primary mineral sources. In this article, IDTechEx presents the valuable lessons that can be learned from the success of the platinum group metals recovery market.

The increased uptake of hydrogen as a fuel will begin to increase the sustainability across a number of sectors. This article explores how the steel and transportation industries in particular are amongst those expected to benefit most significantly from the use of low-carbon hydrogen.

Lithium-ion cells are the fundamental technology underlying electrification in the automotive sector. The materials market for lithium-ion cells is broad and rapidly growing. This article explores cell material trends in EV batteries, and the material demand expected from commercialization of next-generation cell technologies.

Join IDTechEx Principal Technology Analyst Yu-Han Chang on Thursday 26th March for the expert-led webinar, "AI Chips at the Edge of Success". Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times in one day.

As the automotive industry continues to be an ever-relevant space, there are plenty of opportunities for composite materials, including those made with natural fibers, to be integrated into both the interiors and exteriors of vehicles. This article covers some of the technologies exhibited at JEC World 2026.

IDTechEx forecasts that the global blue hydrogen market will grow to $52Bn by 2036. Learn about the different technology options in this brief video.

IDTechEx analyst Thomas Bithell discusses the AR smart glass market and the optics used.

Short-duration battery technologies such as Li-ion and valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries are typically used in data centers as part of uninterruptible power supply systems (UPS). Data center operators also sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) to secure long-term, stable renewable energy at fixed prices, shielding them from price volatility. However, key shifts in both the energy storage technologies adopted and the long-term methods for power procurement for data centers may evolve over time. This article from IDTechEx covers shifts in the technologies adopted and business strategies data center operators may embrace over the coming years.

The green energy market is increasingly drawing attention as sustainability motivations soar in line with regulation and environmental awareness. This article covers some of the companies exhibiting at JEC World 2026 in Paris, where IDTechEx spoke with multiple players within the composite market.

While blue and green hydrogen dominate the low-carbon hydrogen conversation, turquoise hydrogen is quietly gaining momentum. Produced via methane pyrolysis, it delivers near-zero CO2 emissions without the need for carbon capture. Recently, major industrial players such as ExxonMobil, BASF, and KBR have entered this field once dominated by SMEs. Does this signal a shift toward larger-scale commercialization, and how significant is turquoise hydrogen in the broader hydrogen landscape? In this article, IDTechEx explores the technologies, market potential, and emerging role of turquoise hydrogen in the low-carbon energy transition.

Producing streamlined devices to measure a number of medical biometrics and creating modern and efficient wearable products are some of the latest achievable possibilities with printed electronics. LOPEC 2026 saw companies showcasing their latest printed electronics technologies emerging into the market.

An overview of the opportunities for materials in quantum computing, quantum sensing and quantum communications.