Quantum dots (QD) are a technology on the rise for display manufacturers, and some of the major leaders in the field showed their latest technologies during SID Display Week 2016.
 
For example, Nanosys, Inc. introduced its new Hyperion Quantum Dots material system. Mass production of QDEF products using Hyperion Quantum Dots is expected in early 2017.
 
Nanosys, Inc. and Hitachi Chemical also announced their partnership in developing QDEF optical films for displays, with Hitachi Chemical planning to begin shipping QDEF to display manufacturers in mass production volumes during the second half of 2016.
 
Jeff Yurek, corporate communications manager for Nanosys, said that Display Week was a huge success for Nanosys.
 
“Display Week was fantastic this year,” said Yurek. “Overall, we heard attendance was up and it certainly felt that way – our booth was packed.
 
“We had two big announcements at the show,” Yurek added. “First, we announced a new Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF) manufacturing partnership with Hitachi Chemical. Hitachi is sampling films now and will be in full mass production by early 2017. This is a big step in terms of driving the adoption of our Quantum Dot technology by making it available to more display makers.
 
“The second piece of news was about our new Hyperion Quantum Dots,” Yurek noted. “This new technology enables displays that meet the BT.2020 UltraHD color gamut standard with no need for an exemption to the RoHS regulations for shipping in Europe. Previously, only cadmium-selenide Quantum Dots were able to meet the BT.2020 spec and these materials require a RoHS exemption, which may expire at the end of 2017. The new hybrid Hyperion quantum dots materials offer display makers a way to meet the BT.2020 color gamut in 2017 and beyond. Customer feedback was really great on both of these pieces of news.”
 
Quantum Materials Corp. (QMC) exhibited in partnership with Uniglobe Kisco Inc. during SID Display Week. The company reported it completed the initial development phase with its display film partners. Now QMC will start an accelerated sample optimization and delivery schedule for its cadmium-free quantum dots.
 
“In my opinion the most significant take away from the SID was the overwhelming evidence that although quantum dots are only just beginning to impact the display industry, they will continue to do so for a very long time,” said Quantum Materials CEO Stephen Squires. “This point was hammered home with Samsung’s announcement that they are working on next generation display technology using electroluminescent quantum dots versus their current photo luminescent offerings.
 
“We have been working on ELQD and believe although quantum dot film technology will lead the way for the foreseeable future, the ELQD technology will be the next natural step in the evolution of this extraordinary technology,” Squires added. “Quantum dots are here to stay and their impact on the display industry will be nothing short of incredible.”
 
ColorIQ announced that it is now selling its quantum dot-based monitors, which use QD Vision’s quantum dot technology, in North America. Nanoco Group plc was represented at SID Display Week, with Dr. Nigel Pickett, co-founder and CTO, and Steve Reinhard, VP of business development, discussing the company’s cadmium-free quantum dots.
 
Yurek reported that QD is making significant headway in the display field.
 
“Quantum dots are making excellent progress in the display market, particularly in TVs where quantum dots offer real value in terms of high luminance for HDR, great color and low cost,” said Yurek. “At the show, we saw data from IHS for example that shows that quantum dots are on pace to match or exceed OLED this year in terms of total area of displays shipped. I think this is a great indicator that the technology has arrived.”
 
“OLED displays are performing well, but the perception is that the OLED costs are still too high,” said QMC board member Ray Martin. “We heard from one industry analyst that OLEDs are focused more on the smaller displays for high end applications such as luxury automotive and that QD LCD will continue to do better than OLED in the larger form factors for now and sometime into the future.”