Report expects wearable materials market to become valuable niche

The use of e-fibres to create e-textiles is a longer term prospect. More relevant in the short term is the matter of making today's devices smaller, more flexible, more comfortable, invisibly hidden in or under clothing, or transparent. Choosing a power supply, preferably self-sufficiency, is an issue to be addressed. Power running out after a few hours, a common inadequacy today, can be life threatening in the case of exoskeletons and medical e-patches, and dangerous with planned glucose- indicating contact lenses and wristbands for severe diabetics.

In most cases, the only way forward is to abandon the 100 year old ‘components in a box’ approach of almost all manufacturers of wearable technology today. Instead, we should use structural electronics where smart materials are key. This will be a cornucopia for manufacturers of electronic and electrically functional materials that can be made into structures using those increasingly crucial intermediate materials.

However, this industry needs to prioritise and de-risk its future investments. IDTechEx's report, ‘Wearable Technology Materials 2015-2025’ finds large opportunities for organic, inorganic and composite materials, tackling prioritisation in different ways.

First it looks at which materials are low risk because they are useful in many different ways. For example, polyvinylidene difluoride is electrically a gymnast of chemicals. It and its derivatives can be electret microphone, ferroelectric memory, piezoelectric energy harvester and much more besides.

The company has looked at the prevalence of different formulations that are being used in planned integrated devices for the future. For example, there is great interest in lithium, indium and titanium salts across a broad sweep of functionality. III-V compounds feature strongly in next-gen products such as flexible displays and photovoltaics for low light conditions.

Carbon allotropes are very broadly researched for wearables and allied markets, However not much research exists concerning C60 (Buckminsterfullerene) ‘Bucky Balls’. Graphene is of interest for future batteries, supercapacitors and flexible displays.

There are also many niche opportunities for smaller players such as those specialising in the chemistry of tungsten or tantalum, where various uses are emerging. IDTechEx counsels that different morphologies and formats are needed, from electronic printing inks to metal feedstock, for higher speed, lower cost 3D printing.