In my last couple of Display Dailies, I’ve written about the rapidly evolving world of quantum-dot suppliers. This is another one. No apologies for that. There’s a lot to write about.
Let’s step back a bit. Not very long ago, only two companies — Nanosys (Milpitas,California) and QD Vision (Lexington, Massachusetts) — were producing quantum dots for television backlights. Nanosys dots were sold to partner 3M, who embedded them in Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF). QD Vision incorporated its dots into its own Color IQ linear optical element.
In the background were Nanoco (Manchester, UK) and Quantum Materials Corporation (San Marcos, Texas), two companies that seemed to be in permanent “development stage.”
Then, things started changing.
The large-screen TV market moved rapidly to full-matrix direct backlights, which favor QDEF-like film solutions over linear elements, and QD Vision found itself in trouble. (In late November, Samsung confirmed that it had acquired QD Vision for a reported $70 million, most likely to acquire the IP for QLED technology, which could be the technology that replaces large-screen OLED.*)
As reported here, Nanoco announced a major licensing deal with display materials giant Merck. Merck/EMD confirmed the deal and its enthusiasm for it. Robert Miller of Merck subsidiary EMD Performance Materials (Billerica, Massachusetts) told us that the technology transfer would be completed by the end of this year. (EMD Confirms Nanoco Quantum Dot Technology Transfer on Fast Track)
Here are additional details from Miller, which have not been reported previously : “At the same time our engineering department will present possible production concepts (end 2016). Then, the decision will be made where and how to establish QD production and what the time schedule looks like (January-February). Depending on the location, the chosen production concept, the required government approvals, the existing infrastructure, availability/acquisition of process equipment, internal experience/knowledge base, etc., it will then take at least 6 months to dedicate the facility [which could occur as early as] 3rd quarter, 2017.”
Quantum Materials Breaks Cover
Sri PeruvembaAnd that left Sri Peruvemba, the new CEO of Quantum Materials Corp. (QMC) saying, rather apologetically, that good things were happening but he couldn’t talk about them yet. Now he can.
At the end of November, QMC announced that it is shipping high performance red and green cadmium-free quantum dot (CFQD) sample sets to display film manufacturers. “Demand for quantum dot-enabled TVs and displays is growing rapidly,” said Peruvemba. “Our materials, combined with the efficiency and scalability of our continuous-flow production technology, makes us uniquely situated to meet the demand, regardless of how fast it grows.”
Kenji Shimada, President of Uniglobe Kisco, Inc., said “Our own rigorous testing has shown product specifications for [QMC’s] cadmium-free quantum dots to be at or beyond what is currently available in the market today, and their innovative high-volume production technology gives us confidence in the company’s ability to fulfill demand as the market for quantum-dot-enabled films for displays grows.”
Peruvemba explained that Uniglobe Kisco acts as a value-add distributor for QMC in Japan, providing services that include independent testing of QMC products for Kisco’s customers.
Separately, QMC has entered into a common stock purchase agreement with an institutional investor that will allow QMC to raise up to $9.75 million through the sale of common stock to provide “the financing to bring our advanced materials to market.” Peruvemba continued, “Our plan remains to begin shipping commercial quantities of quantum dots in the first part of 2017.”
CES might be a bit early, but I will be looking for a QMC-dotted TV set at SID Display Week in May. – Ken Werner
Ken Werner is Principal of Nutmeg Consultants, specializing in the display industry, manufacturing, technology, and applications, including mobile devices and television. He consults for attorneys, investment analysts, and companies re-positioning themselves within the display industry or using displays in their products. You can reach him at [email protected].
*This has since been clarified – Samsung just bought the ip for QD displays and QLEDs, not the company. (BR)
