An interdisciplinary team at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, Germany, has identified exactly how dendrites grow and pierce ceramic electrolytes to trigger fractures that ultimately lead to battery failure.
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Cirtec Medical, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, has received the first commercial batch of Stereax solid-state battery electrodes from Ilika, Southampton, United Kingdom, for Stereax M300 production. The delivery fulfills the first revenue-generating order under a commercial supply arrangement initiated in January 2026.
The electrodes will support Stereax M300 batteries used in validation and customer sampling across multiple active implantable medical device categories, including implanted sensors, neurostimulators, orthopedic implants, orthodontic wearables, and ophthalmology devices. The Stereax M300 is an ultra-thin, millimeter-scale, rechargeable solid-state battery containing no liquid or polymer components, designed specifically for implantable applications.
“Our close technical cooperation with Ilika has developed into an effective operational partnership, ensuring customers receive the highest quality product for device integration,” said Shawn Martin, Vice President at Cirtec Medical.
Cathode manufacturing remains at Ilika’s UK facility as the most complex production step, while primary battery manufacturing occurs at Cirtec’s facility in Lowell, Massachusetts. The milestone marks Ilika’s transition from technology development to commercial supply in the medical device battery market.
[www.cirtecmed.com](https://www.cirtecmed.com)
New research from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that applying an electric field to a ceramic material removes barriers to phonon transport, conducting heat almost three times more efficiently along the field direction, challenging conventional understanding about controlling heat flow in solid materials.
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Resonetics, Nashua, New Hampshire, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Resolution Medical, a medical device design and manufacturing firm headquartered in Fridley, Minnesota, with additional operations in the Netherlands. The transaction is expected to close in 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
The acquisition adds complementary capabilities in high-growth therapeutic markets including neuromodulation, structural heart, and interventional cardiology. Resolution Medical brings integrated design engineering, new product introduction, and cleanroom production capabilities for Class II and Class III devices, along with a team of more than 240 employees, including over 100 engineers.
“This acquisition will enhance our ability to deliver fully integrated solutions for customers in high-growth markets,” said Kevin Kelly, chief executive officer of Resonetics. The deal marks Resonetics’ third acquisition in the past 12 months as the company continues to broaden its medical device manufacturing platform.
Resonetics specializes in laser processing, nitinol components, and advanced manufacturing for the medical device industry.
HP Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., drives additive manufacturing adoption through portfolio expansion, new material innovations, and global collaborations—including its partnership with GKN Powder Metallurgy, Cincinnati, Ohio, to expand copper applications using HP Metal Jet technology for cloud computing, electrification, and thermal management.
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Velo3D, Inc., Fremont, Calif., a leading additive manufacturing company for mission-critical metal parts, and Linde AMT, Speedway, Ind., (formerly known as Praxair Surface Technologies), a global leader in metal powders and coatings, have signed an agreement to supply domestically produced CuNi (70-30 Copper-Nickel) powder in support of the U.S. Navy and the Maritime Industrial Base Program.
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There are two basic types of feed systems that feed materials that can be thermally sprayed (including polymers, metals, metal alloys, intermetallics, ceramics, and composites): one that feeds wires or rods and another that feeds particulates.
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Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp., Santa Barbara, Calif., released stRAMos, a next-generation Raman microscope based on photothermal detection of Stimulated Raman scattering that delivers unmatched speed, sensitivity, spatial resolution, and multimodal imaging capabilities for life science and materials research.
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Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Florida State University’s Center for Advanced Power Systems and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory developed a cable design that uses multiple strands of superconducting tape, minimizing the chance of failure from defective spots within a wire.
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A new perspective article from NIST and collaborators highlights a critical but often underrated piece of the semiconductor revolution: the “soft” polymer-based packaging materials that hold advanced chips together that are emerging as important factors for reliability, performance, and cost.
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The University of the Philippines Diliman has formalized a PHP 3 million FA Hub partnership The SEM CALACA Power Corporation and the university’s Engineering Research and Development Foundation to consolidate failure analysis labs and launch industry focused services.
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Scientists at Northeastern University, Boston, Mass., introduce a new cost- and energy-efficient computational model for designing alloys that factors in material defects.
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SkyWater Technology, Blooington, Minn., completed its acquisition of Infineon Technologies AG’s 200 mm semiconductor fab in Austin, Texas (“Fab 25”), adding approximately 400,000 wafer starts per year in foundry capacity, to enhance its advanced technology services.
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Researchers from UConn and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory have outlined new ways to accurately track and manage heat in ultrawide bandgap semiconductors, a challenge that has become increasingly important as these materials drive the future of high-performance electronics.
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Johnson Matthey, London, England announced that the platinum market will remain in deficit in 2025 while palladium moves back into balance, according to its 2025 PGM Market Report released ahead of London Platinum & Palladium Market week. The company forecasts a 3% decline in primary platinum output due to operational restructuring, extreme weather and maintenance in South Africa, with secondary supplies subdued globally except in China, where a renewed trade-in incentive scheme is boosting scrap returns. Industrial platinum demand is expected to grow modestly, driven by capacity expansions in chemicals, fibreglass, biofuels and synthetic fuels, even as automotive use declines 5% amid the shift to battery electric powertrains.
Palladium, which faced structural deficits from 2012 to 2024, should reach equilibrium in 2025 as stronger recycling in China offsets reduced primary output from South Africa and the U.S., despite weaker scrap flows elsewhere, and a 5% drop in automotive palladium use.
The rhodium market is forecast to stay in deficit after South African supply falls and auto consumption dips, while industrial demand rebounds with normalized glass-industry purchasing. Ruthenium demand is set to climb 2% on data-centre expansions and robust chemical catalyst use, likely resulting in a significant shortfall without further inventory drawdowns. A slight rise in iridium production should help balance that market, as lower chemical usage is offset by increased crucible demand.
Rupen Raithatha, market research director, noted that uncertainty over U.S. import tariffs could weaken vehicle output and scrap volumes, posing downside risks. Margery Ryan, advocacy and market development manager, added that increased defence spending may drive additional PGM demand given their vital role in military and aerospace technologies.
Instron, Norwood, Mass., released the AVE3, an advanced non-contacting video extensometer that delivers precise strain measurement with unparalleled, micron-level accuracy for tensile, compression, and bend testing.
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Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the WISE research program, Sweden, have launched a Proof-of-Concept Grant program with the purpose to bridge the gap from academic research to innovations in materials science for sustainability.
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Scientists at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recently discovered that Mn3Si2Te6 changes from an insulator to an electrically conductive metal when exposed to a magnetic field.
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Epsilon Group, India, a leading innovator in carbon black and advanced battery materials for electric vehicles and energy storage, is partnering with Tufts University in Massachusetts to launch the Tufts Epsilon Materials Institute-a new research center made possible by an $11.5 million sponsorship and dedicated to advancing materials science and engineering for global energy and sustainability solutions.
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Stanford researchers have created ultrathin niobium phosphide films that conduct electricity better than copper and can be made at low temperatures compatible with modern chip fabrication, promising more powerful, energy-efficient electronics.
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Researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a high-pressure liquid seal technique that eliminates bubble formation in PDMS-based PCR chips by proving that water vapor diffusion—not air expansion—is the main cause of bubbles.
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Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Ill., use Polybot, an AI-driven automated material laboratory, to produce high-conductivity, low-defect electronic polymer thin films.
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3M, St. Paul, Minn., is expanding its commitment to the semiconductor industry by joining the US-JOINT Consortium, a strategic partnership of 12 leading suppliers focused on advancing next-generation semiconductor technologies through research and development at a new Silicon Valley facility.
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A research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has synthesized high-quality boride ceramic powders with an Archimedean shape, holding promising implications for the future of heat protection materials.
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Researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong University, China, have developed a new Template-Constrained Additive printing technology inspired by tree root systems that enhances the mechanical robustness and precision of flexible electronic circuits, allowing them to withstand extreme conditions like high temperatures and mechanical wear, expanding their applications in smart robotics and advanced sensing systems.
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The U.S. National Science Foundation awarded $445,515 to a team including researchers at Penn State Shenango, Sharon, Pa., and Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, to explore the fatigue behavior of 3D-printed materials.
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Constellium, Paris, announced the successful completion of the “ISA3” R&D project, an initiative launched in 2021 to advance lightweight aluminium solutions for automotive applications. Conducted in collaboration with Renault Group, ESI Group, the Institut de Soudure, and the University of Lorraine, the project was supported by a grant from the France Relance investment program. The research focused on developing cost-efficient, recyclable aluminium components to enhance vehicle performance and sustainability.
A key achievement of the project was the development of a lightweight aluminium door in partnership with Renault. Utilizing Constellium’s proprietary uni-alloy 6xxx rolled and extrusion-based solutions, the door design achieved a 14% weight reduction compared to existing aluminium doors used in compact battery electric vehicles. By employing a single alloy series, the project streamlined closed-loop recycling, reducing the door’s overall carbon footprint. This innovation resulted in a 33% reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP), reinforcing the project’s emphasis on sustainability.
Beyond material advancements, the project also explored more efficient and flexible production processes to enhance performance while optimizing costs. Ludovic Piquier, senior vice president, manufacturing excellence and chief technical officer at Constellium, emphasized that the results highlight the company’s commitment to providing sustainable, high-performance aluminium solutions for the automotive sector.
Patrice Belliard, expert in flat products at Renault Group, noted that the project demonstrated how aluminium can support both weight reduction and cost efficiency in automotive manufacturing. Mathilde Chabin, manufacturing product director at ESI Group, added that the use of advanced pre-certification and validation technologies eliminated the need for physical prototypes, accelerating innovation while reducing costs and environmental impact.
The completion of Project ISA3 underscores the potential of aluminium to contribute to the automotive industry’s decarbonization efforts while delivering economic and environmental benefits.
Harper International, Buffalo, NY, announced the successful installation and commissioning of two carbon fiber production lines for Shandong Yongcheng New Materials Co. Ltd. (SYNM) in the Shandong province of China. The newly commissioned systems incorporate Harper’s advanced thermal processing technology, including oxidation ovens, low-temperature (LT) and high-temperature (HT) carbonization furnaces, and integrated energy recovery and waste gas abatement systems.
The two 3-meter-wide production lines at SYNM’s facility will allow for an annual production capacity of 3,000 metric tons of carbon fiber. The site has been designed with future expansion in mind, with the potential to scale up to 12,000 metric tons per year. Harper’s expertise ensured efficient system performance and uniform carbon fiber product quality.
Paul Elwell, vice president of Harper International, emphasized the strong collaboration between Harper and SYNM, which contributed to a smooth installation and commissioning process. He also noted that Harper looks forward to supporting SYNM’s continued growth and expansion in carbon fiber manufacturing.
Fort Wayne Metals, Ind., announced that it has developed HHS tube, an innovative product with a highly customizable structure designed to meet the specific functional requirements of various medical applications. This advancement is intended to address the increasing demand for versatile and reliable metal tubing in devices such as endovascular tools, minimally invasive instruments, neurological components, and urological devices.
HHS tube stands out from conventional tubing due to its ability to be tailored to precise specifications. The product can be manufactured in single, two, or three-layer stranded configurations, with customization options that include inner and outer diameters, wire count and size, pitch direction, and overall length. Inner diameters range from 80 µm to 2.2 mm, while outer diameters span 0.13 mm to 4 mm, allowing it to meet a wide variety of customer requirements.
The versatility of HHS tube makes it suitable for a broad range of applications. For example, neurological stimulation devices require thin, flexible filaments to navigate small and complex areas, while vascular tools demand elongation and compressive strength to deliver instruments to targeted sites. Endoscopy devices benefit from the tube’s ability to provide rotational control in navigating the body. Each configuration of the HHS tube is engineered to meet the specific functional demands of the application.
Fort Wayne Metals also offers custom finishing options to streamline the supply chain for its customers. These include custom fittings, terminations, Nitinol coatings, and specialized parts to support seamless integration into final medical device assemblies. This capability underscores the company’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the medical sector.
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The Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and several collaborating institutions have successfully demonstrated a machine-learning technique to accelerate discovery of materials for film capacitors and used it to screen a library of nearly 50,000 chemical structures to identify and synthesize a compound with record-breaking performance.
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