https://www.idtechex.com/research/articles/quantum
Post# of 22453
Quantum dots: transitions so far from the past to present QDs' first success beyond research uses came in the display industry. Here, first high-performance Cd-based QDs were adopted in LCDs either in edge-optic or film-type implementations. The industry however has already evolved beyond that status: the edge optic has largely become obsolete since its main proponent sold its patent portfolio after IP litigations, whilst the industry has already transitioned away from Cd based towards Cd-free/less QDs with the latter expected to reach 80% market share in 2018. Note that this transition in material composition was driven largely by legislatures who finally announced a ban (effective Oct 2019) on toxic cadmium. The transition however still comes at a performance penalty: the alternative InP QDs still suffers from a wider emission band (FWHM) whilst having largely bridged the quantum yield (QY) discrepancy. Today, CdSe already achieves 35nm and <20nm in commercial and laboratory settings, respectively; whereas InP QDs are at c. 40nm commercially but struggle to go to 35nm even in labs. This gap is hard to rapidly fill because controlling the shape and size monodispersity of InP particles is challenging. QDs have also become more stable. This has already relaxed barrier requirements in film type implementation and is anticipated to continue to do so. This trend therefore leads to simpler and lower cost barrier films. Efforts to improve production either via larger scales or via innovative processes such as low-temperature molecular seedings, continuous reactions in microcapillaries or one-pot synthesis process all seek to lower per Kg production costs. Increased QD brightness will also result in lower per sqm consumption. All these factors are driving down total QD implementation costs. In turn, this is opening new pricing strategies to display makers. This has led to an interesting dynamic in which some, including many in China, are expanding product range to cover a spectrum of prices, whereas others are struggling to maintain the high-priced ultra-premium aura of QD displays in defiance of new cost realities.
Read more at: https://www.idtechex.com/research/articles/qu...014912.asp