What Display Daily thinks: It is still a bit of a mystery why there is not a more dramatic surge of interest in quantum dots as a display industry opportunity. I am sure our friends at Nanosys may want to argue against that point but I guess we should be grateful for the Nobel prize award because it certainly makes a case for some reflection on the value of quantum dots, in general.
The thing is that as far as the display industry is concerned, the real winner is the existing investments and 3-5 year plans for factories based on whatever the technology bent was three years ago. The interesting thing about quantum dots is that they are part of a much bigger opportunity in optoelectronics and that they may also be the harbingers of the future of displays as a subset of a bigger optoelectronics industry.
Displays are still mired in the notion that they are “glass” products. In fact, they are both emitters and absorbers of light as technology moves towards micro-architectures and newer, semiconductor-type manufacturing processes.
What does that all mean? Quantum dots are an inflection point in display technology, a juncture at which the industry turns away from the old and heads towards the new.
The Analysts’ Quantum Dot Prognostications
Quantum Dots are nanocrystals, ranging from 2 to 10 nanometers, that when illuminated re-emit light in different wavelengths depending on their size. IDTechEx has a new report on the quantum dot materials market and the display industry.
Market Size and Growth
The global QD material market is projected to reach $550 million by 2034, according to the report. This figure is the value of the raw QD material itself, not the final products they enable. Other market research reports from sources like Mordor Intelligence and Fact.MR project the global QD display market to reach between $ 12 and $ 69 billion by 2032, highlighting the potential for explosive growth.
Based on this analysis, the QD display market is experiencing significant growth, driven by several key factors. One of the primary factors is the superior display quality offered by QDs, which includes improved color gamut, brightness, and viewing angles compared to traditional display technologies. This has led to increasing demand from consumers for more immersive and realistic visual experiences, making QD displays an attractive choice for various applications. Although this aspect of the report seems to be more for the report buyers’ benefit rather than any consumer demand for QD specifically, and there probably are only a fraction of consumers who like to use the word immersive in a sentence.
Another factor contributing to the growth of the QD display market is energy efficiency. QDs can significantly reduce power consumption compared to other display technologies, making them a desirable choice for mobile devices and environmentally conscious consumers. This energy efficiency is particularly important in the context of the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly technologies.
Emerging applications, such as QDCC and on-chip QDs, are expected to further expand the market by enabling thinner, brighter, and more flexible displays. These advancements are expected to drive the adoption of QD displays in various industries, including consumer electronics, automotive, and healthcare.
Cost reduction is another factor contributing to the growth of the QD display market. Advancements in QD manufacturing and processing are gradually bringing down the cost of the technology, making it more accessible for wider adoption. This cost reduction, combined with the other factors mentioned, is expected to drive the growth of the QD display market in the coming years. And the report tries to qualify the applications of QD in its own way.
QD on Edge:
- Function: Introduced between the LED row and light guide plate (LGP), this approach enhances color saturation and viewing angles in edge-lit displays.
- Advantages: Simple implementation, good color improvement, suitable for existing panel designs.
- Disadvantages: Limited to edge-lit displays, requires backlight unit modification, less effective than other approaches.
- Current Status: Declining, superseded by more versatile methods like QDEF.
Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF):
- Function: A film containing QDs placed above the LGP in both edge-lit and direct-lit displays. It manipulates light wavelengths to produce wider color gamut and higher brightness.
- Advantages: Versatile for different display types, easy integration with existing manufacturing processes, lower temperature and light flux requirements.
- Disadvantages: Can affect display thickness, less color accuracy compared to QDCC and QLED.
- Current Status: Dominant QD solution in displays, with ongoing advancements in barrier-free and eye-safe versions.
Quantum Dot on Glass (QDOG):
- Function: Combines a glass LGP with QDEF for a thinner and simpler design.
- Advantages: Thin profile, suitable for edge-lit displays with glass LGP.
- Disadvantages: Inflated cost, limited applications, requires specialized glass handling knowledge.
- Current Status: Niche applications only, not widely adopted due to disadvantages.
Quantum Dot Color Converter (QDCC):
- Function: QDs replace blue or white LEDs in OLED and micro-LED displays, directly producing wider color gamut and higher brightness.
- Advantages: Superior color accuracy and brightness compared to QDEF, OLEDs with full color and wider viewing angles, potential for thinner displays.
- Disadvantages: More complex manufacturing process, higher initial cost.
- Current Status: Emerging technology with significant potential, gaining momentum due to material and fabrication improvements.
Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (QLED):
- Function: QDs directly replace emissive pixels in LCDs or OLEDs, offering unparalleled color purity and efficiency.
- Advantages: Ultimate emissive material for displays, supplying exceptional color gamut, brightness, and energy efficiency.
- Disadvantages: Complex manufacturing process, highest first cost among QD methods.
- Current Status: Early stage of development holds immense potential for the future of displays.
Challenges and outlook
While the potential of QD displays is significant, their path to widespread adoption faces various challenges. Issues such as performance, lifetime, and manufacturing complexities present obstacles that need to be addressed for these displays to achieve their full potential.
Performance concerns revolve around QD color stability and temperature sensitivity. Minor variations in temperature or QD composition can impact their light emission, potentially causing color shifts and inconsistencies. Additionally, the lifetime of current QDs is a challenge, as they may degrade over time, affecting display color accuracy and brightness. Furthermore, integrating QDs into existing display production lines requires intricate processes and specialized equipment, leading to increased costs and hindering scalability.
However, despite these challenges, there are reasons for optimism. Researchers and engineers are making considerable progress in overcoming these hurdles. Advancements in QD materials are resulting in more stable and temperature-resistant compositions, reducing the risk of color shifts. Improved nanofabrication techniques are extending the lifespan of QDs, enhancing display longevity. Breakthroughs in scalable manufacturing processes hold the promise of lowering costs and streamlining QD integration, making them more accessible for wider adoption.
