Quantum Dots: Material Innovations, Commercial Applications

Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) can improve applications from displays to scintillators because of their superior light-emitting properties compared to classical quantum dots. Standing in the way of these applications is the difficulty to process PQDs into devices, especially into the polymer thin films used in displays and scintillators, without losing their unique properties. BrightComSol presents BrightLeaf™, a flexible perovskite-based scintillator based on a new resin, BrightSplash™. Our resin allows for the efficient processing of PQD flexible films at low and high loading. We share recent highlights of using BrightLeaf™ for high-resolution X-ray imaging.

Bio

Sam earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich). He was educated in materials engineering in Zurich, Lausanne and Stockholm. He is co-founder and CEO of Switzerland based Avantama AG, the leader in perovskite quantum dots.

Armin Wedel
Division Director | Functional Polymer Systems @ Fraunhofer IAP

Bio

Dr. Armin Wedel studied Physics at the University of Rostock from 1981 to 1986. In 1992 he received the Ph.D degree in Physics at the University of Potsdam. From 1986 until 1991 he works as a scientific research assistant at the Institute of Polymer Chemistry of the Academy of Science in Teltow. Since 1992 he works at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research in several research positions. He was a member of research group of physically active polymers with the topic of nonlinear optical properties of side-chain polymers and works as a research assistant in the field of OLEDs, OTFTs and OPV. Now he is responsible for the development of the technology of organic light emitting diodes (OLED) from the layout to the encapsulation and organic photovoltaic in several applications. Since 2006 he is head of the Department of Functional Materials and Devices at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research and Division Director of Functional Polymers. Since 2009 he is involved in the development of environmentally friendly quantum dot materials as a new class of emissive materials for future display and lighting applications. He holds more than 18 patents, 70 publications in various journals. In 2012 he received an award of the Korean Society Display (Korean Information Display Society) for outstanding achievements in the field of synthesis and application of environmentally friendly quantum dots (QD) for display technology. He is the President of the German Flat Panel Forum (DFF e.V.) since 2020 and member of the overseas advisory boards of the International Conference on Display Technology (ICDT), China and of the International Meeting on Information Displays (IMID), Korea.

Perovskites are promising light-emitting materials for colour conversion and direct electroluminescence with the potential to enable advanced display architectures. While early commercial development has focused on green, red emitters are needed for both in-pixel and backlight film colour conversion. Here we report on the recent developments on red emitters tailored for wide-colour gamut and power efficiency. The materials show very high colour stability and are suitable for use in films, pixels, and LEDs.

Bernd Richter
Head of Dept. Organic Micro Devices @ Fraunhofer FEP

Bio

Bernd Richter (male) born 1977, received his diploma in electrical engineering from TU Dresden in 2003 with the focus on information technology and microelectronics. After graduation he became a research fellow at Fraunhofer IPMS in Dresden in the field of system and integrated circuit design where he specialized in the design and manufacturing of OLED microdisplays and sensors based on the organic-on-silicon technology. In 2010 he became head of the research group „Microdisplay Devices and Systems“. After the changing to Fraunhofer COMEDD in 2012 he headed the core competency „IC und Systemdesign“, that was transferred into the department „IC und Systemdesign“ at Fraunhofer FEP in 2014. In the further course he redeployed his R&D focus into the direction of technology and integration of organics on silicon wafers. In 2017 he became head of the department „Organic Microelectronic Devices“. Bernd manages several industrial and research projects in the field of data glasses, microdisplays and sensors at national and international level and is deputy head of the business unit "Microdisplays and Sensors".

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Image sensors using quantum dots as the photoactive layer have the potential to disrupt imaging and sensing, especially at wavelengths beyond the spectrum accessible by silicon. Thanks to monolithic integration directly on the readout circuit, pixel pitch can be scaled down and resolution can be maximized. Imec is developing technologies for short-wave infrared (SWIR) image sensors, focusing on compatibility with CMOS fab processing. Focal plane arrays with pixels smaller than 2 um are demonstrated, showing a route towards miniaturization of SWIR cameras. This technology enables introduction of infrared vision into applications that traditionally could not afford that.

Pawel Malinowski
Program Manager “Pixel Innovations” @ Imec
Bio

Born in Lodz, Poland. At imec since 2005, currently Program Manager "Pixel Innovations". Main interest: disruptive imaging technologies.

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Quantum Dots (QDs), the nanocrystals that can downconvert light with high efficiency, are on their way to revolutionize display and lighting applications. However, the widespread use of QDs is limited by two issues. As cadmium is restricted by RoHS, the use of cadmium-based QDs is limited. Second, the Cd-free alternatives deteriorate quickly under high temperatures and light flux conditions. At Ghent University a Cd-free technology was delevoped that can withstand these harsh conditions and can be used directly on the LED chip. This opens new possibilities for QDs in new applications which are being explored by the spinoff company QustomDot.

Kim De Nolf
CEO & Co-Founder @ QustomDot

Bio

Kim De Nolf is CEO and co-founder of QustomDot. She has received the masters and PhD degree in chemistry from Ghent University in Belgium. In 2017, she started a three-year post-doctoral fellowship to investigate the valorization potential of the research conducted at the PCN group, lead by prof. Zeger Hens. This work has led to the incorporation of QustomDot in January 2020. QustomDot is an advanced materials spin-off company and its mission is to realize the full potential of quantum dots by providing customized solutions for next-generation applications. The QustomDot technology enables the use of RoHS-compliant quantum dots directly onto (micro)LED chips.

Perovskite Quantum Dots exceptional photoluminescence efficiency prompting its application in display and sensor fields. Quantum Solutions presents its QDot™ Perovskite Technology that allows to fabricate devices with high performance and reliability. In this work, two type of prototypes will be demonstrated: LCD displays with extremely wide color gamut and high brightness, as well as silicon/perovskite sensor with high UV light sensitivity.

Luminescent solar collectors (LSC) were first proposed in 1976 as a “Luminescent Greenhouse Collector”. However, large scale commercial implementation of LSCs did not materialized until recently. Soliculture introduced the first commercial scale LSC in 2015 designed specifically for greenhouse crop production. Over 50,000 sq.ft. of LSC greenhouses have been installed in the US and Canada and are producing crops commercially. The LSC design uses an organic luminescent material that matches photosynthesis efficiency to improve plant growth. This talk will review the design and manufacturing challenges associated with bringing an LSC to large scale commercial production.

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Quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs) with outstanding wavelength tunability, ideal color purity, sufficient power density and unique flexible form factors are high promising photomedical light sources that could facilitate widespread clinical applications of photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photobiomodulations (PBM). In this talk, I will share the progresses on flexible QLEDs development and photomedical studies at University of Central Florida, QLEDCures and our medical partner institutions. The perspective of flexible QLEDs for various photomedical applications in the near and long term will be discussed.

Yajie Dong
Associate Professor @ University of Central Florida

Bio

Yajie Dong is an associate professor in the NanoScience Technology Center of University of Central Florida, an associate editor of Optics Express, and a member of the emissive, microLED, and quantum-dot displays (EMQ) subcommittee of SID’s Display Week Technical Program Committee. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. He is the founder and chief scientific officer of QLEDCures LLC, a startup that pursues the photomedical applications of QLEDs.

In recent years, quantum dots (QDs) have gained interest as narrowband emitters for displays, but have traditionally suffered from reliability issues, high manufacturing cost, and toxicity concerns, which prevent them from being incorporated into products beyond displays. At UbiQD, we are making QDs ubiquitous across several industries with a new composition that is intrinsically more stable, lower-cost, and avoids toxic compounds. We are currently focusing on bringing to market QD-tinted films and glass for spectrum-optimized greenhouses. This talk will highlight the recent developments including data from several commercial greenhouse pilot projects, and an overview of the first-ever QD greenhouse product.