Advanced Materials

Growth in consumption of rare earths is being driven to a large extent by the utilization of these materials in mechanical/metallurgical applications, primarily for the fabrication of permanent magnets. The mechanical/metallurgical sector is estimated to account for 32.1% of total rare earth oxide (REO) consumption for 2011. This trend should continue for 2012 but no total geological data have yet been accumulated for 2012. Other sectors of application for rare earth materials are within the glass and ceramics; energy; chemical; and electronics, optics and optoelectronics sectors, which combined account for 65.4% of total REO consumption. Other sectors (such as life sciences, sensors and instrumentation, and consumer) account for a combined share of 2.5%. Consumption of rare earths is projected to continue growing during the next five years, primarily driven by the energy and electronics and optoelectronics sectors. High-growth applications in these sectors include batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), advanced displays and solid-state lighting.

The LEDs segment is expected to have the largest market share with an expected value of $7.5 billion in 2017 after increasing at a five-year CAGR of 39%. The larger context for photonic crystals is that they are being pitched as a collective alternative to present-day semiconductor fabrication. The state –of –the art in photonic crystal fabrication, however, is in no position to challenge complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication processes. It will require an enormous amount of technological advancement to make a compelling business case for photonic crystals to replace present-day electronics. Photonic crystals are integrated at various levels in device-manufacturing life cycles. The predominant mode of integration is that the component or module level serves as a substitute for enhancement for existing conventional materials. It is therefore suitable to consider components and modules as the primary classification criteria for determining the market dynamics of photonic crystals. It is indisputable that all of the components and modules have independent dynamics when it comes to their applications and regional implementations. A breakdown along these lines provides insight into these dynamics.

Photonic crystals are integrated at various levels in device-manufacturing life cycles. The predominant mode of integration is that the component or module level serves as a substitute for enhancement for existing conventional materials. It is therefore suitable to consider components and modules as the primary classification criteria for determining the market dynamics of photonic crystals.  It is indisputable that all of the components and modules have independent dynamics when it comes to their applications and regional implementations.  A breakdown along these lines provides insight into these dynamics. Solar and PV cells show extraordinary growth at a 61.1% CAGR and a forecast value of $4.1 billion in 2017. The LEDs segment is expected to have the largest market share with an expected value of $7.5 billion in 2017 after increasing at a five-year CAGR of 39%.

The United States was once self-reliant in domestically produced rare earth elements, but over the past 15 years, the U.S. has become 100% reliant on imports, primarily from China where there are lower cost operations. Except for a small amount of recycling, the United States is 99% reliant on imports of rare earth elements and highly dependent on many other minerals that support its economy.

Micro servers presently account for 2.3% of the total server sales however looking at the current growth rate, in next five years it is expected to reach 25 to 30% per cent of the global server market. According to a new study, the total market for next generation memory is expected to reach $26.55 billion by 2018 at an estimated CAGR of 62.3% from 2013 to 2018.

According to this report the global market for electronic chemicals and materials was valued at $21.2 billion in 2011 and should reach $22 billion in 2012. Total market value is expected to reach nearly $28.8 billion in 2017 after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%.

The new electronics and electrics usually involve totally new device principles and chemistry. Whether it is totally new forms of flat screen display or re-invented lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells, those at the start of the value chain tend to make higher margins than those making the devices themselves. That is why almost all large chemical companies are becoming very active in this next wave of opportunity representing a new market for fine chemicals and specialist materials of over $50 billion in 2023.

The semiconductor industry is well known for the rapid pace of technical innovation. Memory companies go through half-pitch shrinks yearly and logic companies go through node changes every two to three years. Looming on the horizon is a wide variety of new devices, materials and equipment: MRAM, PCRAM, RRAM, Multigate, FDSOI, III-V/Ge channels, BST, STO and the list goes on. If you need to understand and plan for these transitions the IC Knowledge Strategic Products are the solutions for you. The Strategic Products present you with easy to use models based on the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) that fully map out the implications of these technology transitions.

According to a new technical market research report, the global market for graphene-based products is projected to reach $122.9 million in 2017 and $986.7 million in 2022, increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 51.7%. Potential electronics applications of graphene include ultrasmall transistors, superdense data storage, touch screens, and wearable electronics. In the energy field, potential applications include ultracapacitors to store and transmit electrical power, and highly-efficient solar cells.

The report defines and segments the global SiC Semiconductor market with analysis and forecasting of the revenues and volumes for the overall market and all its sub-segments. The SiC semiconductor devices market is expected to grow robustly at a high CAGR of 37.67% from 2012 to 2022. The SiC market’s competitive landscape had only a handful of players in the beginning of the previous decade, but it quickly emerged into a vast network with more than forty key players combining both materials and devices.