With graphene having been coined a 'wonder material' and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) serving niche and emerging applications, IDTechEx's portfolio of Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals Research Reports and Subscriptions uncovers material truths in the form of research data that show the highlights and lowlights of these two advanced materials.
A growing hope for graphene
With the highest strength, unmatched thermal conductivity, low electrical resistivity, and high transparency, graphene is a material that could live up to its longstanding hype since the Nobel prize in Physics was awarded in 2010 for the material's isolation. In the pursuit of harnessing these qualities, however, there have been challenges faced. While creating composite materials from the nanocarbon is more straightforward, obtaining pristine, defect free sheets of graphene is no easy task, as they require a high level of precision when being transferred to an application area.
Graphene can still be used in other forms (as the name is not just specific to the pristine sheets), with a number of material types encompassed under the umbrella, each with their own characteristics and best-suited applications. IDTechEx's report, "Graphene & 2D Materials 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, Players", states that there any many players operating within the graphene space, though the market is not forecast to hit $1billion until 2032, with many companies relying on funding to continue their work.
The advanced carbon spectrum places 2D graphene between diamond and multiwall CNTs, ranging from monolayer and bilayer graphene powder, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, graphene wafers, and finally to graphene films. While GNPs and graphene oxide are listed as having a wide range of applications, and graphene wafers are used for biosensors and photonics, graphene powders and films are still reported to be relatively limited in their success.
Multiwall and single-wall carbon nanotubes
Despite their previous low profile and specific application areas, CNTs are up and coming as a sought-after material, largely in line with growing demand for energy storage. Their high tensile strength, thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and charge carrying capacity make them superior to copper across a wide number of applications, though they still face challenges surrounding translation to the macroscale, different CNT forms, and chirality optimization.
IDTechEx's report, "Carbon Nanotubes 2025-2035: Market, Technology & Players", covers multiwall and single-wall CNTs, differentiating between the two and highlighting their individual qualities. Multiwall CNTs are seeing new growth after a quiet period, which is mostly driven by increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries, where the CNTs can be used as a conductive additive. IDTechEx's report highlights that current trends for multiwall CNTs include the development of higher aspect-ratio tubes, hybrid materials, alternative feedstocks, and more, showcasing a definite R&D interest in the sector.
Single-wall CNTs, on the other hand, are still fairly early in their adoption process, which is mostly as a result of high material costs and small-scale manufacturing. Single-wall CNTs could serve as a polymer additive material and serve a purpose in silicon anode applications for solar cells and lithium-ion batteries. The potential for the materials to be used within electronics applications is also a topic of discussion, as single-wall CNTs can possess semiconductor properties which could subsequently allow for more doors to open up. IDTechEx reports that success in these large markets could lead to higher growth for single-wall CNTs.
For more information on graphene, CNTs, and other advanced materials, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest research, developments, player activity, and forecasts.
