Printed and flexible electronics is a diverse sector, accommodating a variety of technologies and applications from flexible batteries and conductive inks to photovoltaics. IDTechEx's portfolio of Printed & Flexible Electronics Research Reports and Subscriptions is home to eclectic research covering the latest trends and uptake of printed and flexible electronics within wider markets, including wearables and energy.
The rise of flexible batteries
Wearables is a huge market for flexible batteries, where devices often need to be small, form fitting, and discreet. The typical bulk and rigidity of regular batteries aren't suitable for small, curved electronics such as smart rings or electronic skin patches, meaning this gap in the market is the perfect size for flexible batteries to come into play. High volumetric energy density, long working hours, rapid discharge, and form factor, are all described by IDTechEx as being important features for flexible batteries for wearables, with many prototypes now available on the market.
IDTechEx's report, "Flexible Batteries Market 2025-2035: Technologies, Forecasts, and Players", provides benchmarking of multiple different technologies, comparing thin-film and printed batteries with traditional batteries like Li-ion, rating them on characteristics such as readiness for commercialization, weight, thickness, flexibility, safety, energy density, and other necessary considerations. The report identifies thin-film solid-state and bulk solid-state batteries as being excellent across measures including thickness, flexibility, and safety, meaning these are likely to see increased uptake as desires for flexibility become more prevalent.
Wearables, conductive inks, and sustainable electronics
Alongside the upcoming use of flexible batteries within wearables, conductive inks can be deployed to create circuits with integrated sensors and electronic skin patches, to further optimize and enhance the wearables market. Conductive inks can be used to print electronic circuits directly onto wearable textiles, cutting out the need for a printed circuit board (PCB) and instead utilizing the fabric itself as a substrate. IDTechEx's report, "Conductive Inks Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Applications, Players", highlights sensing technologies as being a major application for printed and flexible electronics, and by printing sensors directly onto a surface, the layers can be integrated closely, still being able to maintain a discreet form factor which is a desirable characteristic of wearables.
Sustainability has a role to play within printed electronics, where a reduction in materials via additive manufacturing enables less waste and therefore less toxic chemicals associated with these materials. IDTechEx's report, "Sustainable Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing 2025-2035: Players, Markets, Forecasts", covers sustainability across the entire value chain of electronics, including design processes through to material choices and component manufacturing. The report also provides benchmarking of substrate types, including the sustainable qualities of different materials such as biodegradability and solubility, and goals to reduce the presence of PFAS chemicals within the electronics industry according to global regulations.
Flexible photovoltaics
The energy sector sees flexible electronics taking the shape of thin photovoltaic panels for the generation of solar energy. Perovskite solar cells are made from thin film material, with the perovskite active layer able to be mounted onto a flexible substrate, meaning the solar cells can maintain flexibility and slim form factor. This is a huge development within the energy sector, as with their flexibility, these solar panels could be used on a wider range of surfaces, including for solar powered consumer electronics or even car rooves, giving a new look to this source of renewable energy.
The functional layers within the solar cells are typically between 5nm and 500nm. Perovskite solar cells can maintain high efficiency, scalability, and low-cost, despite their thinness, making them ideal for discreet and streamlined applications. IDTechEx's report, "Perovskite Photovoltaic Market 2025-2035: Technologies, Players & Trends", benchmarks perovskite against other material choices, and provides information on key players and the maturity of the technology.
For more information, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Printed & Flexible Electronics Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest developments in the sector, along with main applications, key players, and forecasts spanning the next decade.
