Materials for Quantum Technologies 2026-2046: Market, Trends, Players, Forecasts - IDTechEx

Accept This website uses cookies to offer you the best possible service. For more information about how we use them see our privacy policy. Materials for Quantum Technologies 2026-2046: Market, Trends, Players, Forecasts 20-year forecasts for materials opportunities in quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communications. Technologies, key players, supply chain dynamics for superconductors, photonics, PICs, nanomaterials, and diamond for quantum applications. By Noah El Alami and Dr Tess Skyrme Order now Ask a question Order in a Subscription About subscriptions Download Sample Pages Show All Description Contents, Table & Figures List FAQs Pricing Quantum technology is currently one of the fastest growing deep-tech markets, but their performance and scalability are often held back by challenges in materials, components, and manufacturing processes. This report analyzes the opportunities and emerging solutions in materials for quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communications, with the total market opportunity for superconducting chips, PICs, and diamond for quantum technologies anticipated to reach US$3.38 billion by 2036 and US$18.9 billion by 2046 with a total CAGR of 23.1% over the full forecast period.   The quantum technology industry is diverse, with a vast range of products, business models, and a global distribution of players ranging from university spinouts to governments and international corporations. However, what IDTechEx has found is that throughout the industry there are opportunities for key material platforms to enable the scalability, and ultimately the commercial viability, of quantum technology. These material platforms are the physical basis of the quantum systems leveraged to unlock 'quantum advantage' in products: whether that is enabling the computation of classically intractable problems in quantum computing, unlocking magnitudes higher sensitivity for quantum sensors, or creating fundamentally secure cryptographic solutions in quantum communications.   Source: IDTechEx Research.   Three Quantum Markets, Three Key Material Platforms Quantum technology is usually categorized into three core product verticals: quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communications. This subdivision is typically used by government and commercial quantum strategies, and IDTechEx has published individual market research reports containing in-depth analysis of each vertical.   However, from a materials point of view, it is instead more informative to categorize quantum technologies by the physical 'platform' or quantum system they are built on. This approach highlights the intersections between different products, not by their applications, but by the materials and components common between them.   The three most important materials platforms for quantum technologies can be grouped as follows: Superconducting chips: Microfabricated electrical circuits of superconducting metals or compounds deposited on semiconductor wafers which exhibit quantum properties. Examples of products include SQUIDs, SNSPDs, and superconducting qubit computers. Photonic systems: Optics and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are used either for the manipulation of single photons as carriers of quantum information, or to address atomic and defect-spin systems. Photonics are central to quantum networking and photonic qubit quantum computing but are also gaining traction for trapped ion and neutral atom qubits as well as various types of quantum sensors. Nanomaterials and diamond: Point defects in artificial diamond have been used to develop commercial quantum sensors and computers, while a range of opportunities for nanomaterials such as CNTs, quantum dots, and 2D/2.5D materials are emerging from research.   In each case, these material platforms stretch across the 3 quantum technology market verticals (computing, sensing, and communications), such that technologies and products between different areas of quantum technology can often benefit from the same material innovations, components, or foundry capabilities. This groundbreaking report assesses the material opportunities from both dimensions for a deeper analysis that highlights key intersections between the quantum and materials industries.   Source: IDTechEx Research.   Illuminating opportunities for photonics in quantum technologies Photonics have already revolutionized classical information technology, with transceivers based on photonic integrated circuits (PICs) enabling high-speed communication within AI data centers at unprecedented scales. For quantum technologies, PICs have the potential to shrink optics that would have previously occupied an entire optical table in a lab-based setup down to the chip-scale, all while increasing manufacturing scalability and often improving performance by eliminating alignment errors.   However, the requirements of quantum PICs are very different to other applications. Due to the fragility of quantum systems, quantum PICs have a very low tolerance for losses, and to address systems such as atoms and point defects in diamond, they also need to operate at wavelengths unfamiliar to the traditional telecoms or datacoms industry.   To address these requirements, photonics innovators are exploring PIC material platforms beyond silicon, with silicon nitride (SiN), thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN), and barium titanate (BTO) as some examples of rising stars in the quantum photonics industry. Champions of these materials come from both within the quantum industry - such as PsiQuantum, QuiX Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc (QCi) - and from external foundries and partners.   Equally exciting trends exist in the markets for superconductors, with content in this report covering the materials, fabrication processes, packaging trends, and testing of quantum chips, as well as emerging opportunities for artificial diamond and nanomaterials.   Key aspects of this report This report aims to give a detailed examination of the material opportunities in the quantum technology industry, focusing on technical innovations, market forces, and supply chain dynamics across superconductors, photonics, and nanomaterials.   Key Aspects This report encompasses all of the following topics: Analysis of material requirements for quantum technologies Brief introduction to the quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communications markets. Review of the material requirements for each type of quantum technology. Discussion of how material innovations can improve performance, reduce noise, and unlock mass-market scalability for quantum technologies.   Trends in emerging materials for quantum technologies Developments in the fabrication, packaging, and testing of superconducting quantum chips for SQUIDs, SNSPDs, and superconducting qubit quantum computing. Deep dive into photonics for quantum applications, including emerging material platforms for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) such as silicon nitride and TFLN. Opportunities for emerging nanomaterials and advanced carbons (graphene, CNTs, diamond) in quantum technologies. Analysis of market research findings supported by primary information from 35 company profiles of key players in the industry.   Granular 20-year market sizing forecasts Quantitative trajectories for the total size of the addressable market for three key material platforms: superconducting chips, PICs, and diamond, over the quantum technology market. 7 new forecast lines with conclusions drawn and detailed methodology. Projections for the next 2 decades are based on IDTechEx's wider portfolio of extensive market research on the quantum technology industry. Report Metrics Details Historic Data 2024 - 2025 CAGR US$18.9 billion market opportunity for superconducting chips, PICs, and diamond for quantum technologies by 2046 with total CAGR 23.1% Forecast Period 2026 - 2046 Forecast Units Market Size (Annual Revenue in USD) Regions Covered Worldwide Segments Covered Superconducting Chips for Quantum Computing Superconducting Chips for Quantum Sensors PICs for Quantum Computing PICs for Quantum Communications PICs for Quantum Sensing Diamond for Quantum Computing Diamond for Quantum Sensing Analyst access from IDTechEx All report purchases include up to 30 minutes telephone time with an expert analyst who will help you link key findings in the report to the business issues you're addressing. This needs to be used within three months of purchasing the report. 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Order now Ask a question Order in a Subscription About subscriptions Download Sample Pages US$18.9B market opportunity for materials for quantum technologies by 2046 with CAGR 23.1% Buy now Get a quote Ask a question Report Statistics Slides 267 Companies 35 Forecasts to 2046 Published Dec 2025   Preview Content  Webinar slides  Sample pages   Customer Testimonial "The resources produced by IDTechEx are a valuable tool... Their insights and analyses provide a strong foundation for making informed, evidence-based decisions. By using their expertise, we are better positioned to align our strategies with emerging opportunities." Director of Market Strategy Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)       ISBN: 9781835701645