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Quantum Dots 2016-2026: Applications, Markets, Manufacturers

Device and material forecasts in display, lighting, photovoltaic, sensors and life science

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Quantum dots were discovered in the 80's but commercialization has initially been slow. Interest in quantum dots peaked in the early 2000's when nanotechnology was still a favorite keyword amongst investors. However, a lack of products meant that quantum dots were mostly used in research labs.
 
In the last three years, quantum dots have been back in the spotlight with the promise to make LCD screens more colorful and more energy efficient. Sony was the first to commercialize a quantum dot LCD TV in 2013 and there are now several OEMs (including Samsung) offering TVs with quantum dots.
 
As a type of semiconductor, quantum dots exhibit a photoluminescence which is particularly useful for improving colors in LCD. But quantum dots can also be used as electroluminescent materials: quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLED) have been in development for several years and they have a great potential for display applications.
 
Quantum dots are also emerging as a promising material for other type of devices, most notably optical and infrared sensors.
 
IDTechEx forecasts that quantum dots will enable a market for devices and components worth over $11bn by 2026. The demand for quantum dots will grow from less than 100 kg today to several tons over the next decade. After some difficult early years, the commercialization of quantum dots is turning into a success story.
 
 
Figure 1 - Quantum dot devices and components ($ million) 2016-2026
 
 
Source: IDTechEx
 
This report covers all types of colloidal quantum dots (core, core/shell, cadmium-free, quantum rods, etc...). It gives an assessment of the main applications of quantum dots in displays, lighting, photovoltaic (PV), sensors and life science.
 
IDTechEx has been tracking the progress of related technologies, such as OLED, thin film photovoltaic, barrier films, and printed electronics for many years. The market analysis and forecasts are therefore based on an extensive knowledge of the industry, with a critical assessment of the real value proposition in each application.
 
Market forecasts in this report are given until 2026, covering seven market segments:
  • LCD components
  • QLED panels
  • Lighting components
  • PV components
  • Sensor modules
  • Biological marker
  • Others
 
Forecasts are given for sale revenues (in USD), unit shipment as well as quantity of quantum dots (in kg).
 
The report includes a list of 32 key manufacturers of quantum dots in North America, Europe, and East Asia.
 
This report also gives a detailed and independent industry analysis of quantum dots for both LCD and QLED displays. This includes an assessment of the various types of LCD components made with quantum dots:
  • Films
  • Edge optics
  • On-chip downconversion
 
Based on direct interviews with the leading companies in the supply chain, the information in the report can save you months of research and give you the complete picture.
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1.INTRODUCTION
1.1.What are quantum dots?
1.2.Colloidal quantum dots
1.3.Different types of colloidal quantum dots
1.4.Typical structure of a quantum dot
1.5.Photoluminescence of quantum dots
1.6.Quantum rods
1.7.Carbon quantum dots (CQD)
1.8.Graphene Quantum Dots
2.QUANTUM DOT MANUFACTURERS
2.1.List of 32 quantum dot material manufacturers
2.2.Interest in the topic
2.3.Who are the main players now?
2.4.Share price of public companies
2.5.Why use heavy metals?
2.6.Dow Electronic Materials
2.7.StoreDot
2.8.UbiQD
3.PATENT ISSUES
3.1.Importance of early patents
3.2.Case Study: Evident
3.3.Nanoco v.s Nanosys
3.4.IP acquisition
4.ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH ISSUES
4.1.Cadmium under RoHS
4.2.Timeline of exemption
4.3.How much cadmium is there in a display?
4.4.Intense lobbying
4.5.Is Indium Phosphide a safer alternative?
5.MARKET FORECASTS
5.1.Quantum dot device shipment (million units)
5.2.Quantum dot device revenues ($ million)
5.3.Quantum dot material shipment (kg)
5.4.Quantum dot material revenues ($ million)
5.5.TV shipment by technology type
6.APPLICATIONS IN LIFE SCIENCE
6.1.Quantum dots as fluorescent tags
6.2.Examples of images
6.3.Advantages over organic dyes
6.4.Comparison of absorption/emission
6.5.Major milestones in academic research
6.6.Various approaches to use quantum dots
6.7.Example: monitoring enzyme activity
6.8.Zymera in vivo imaging
7.APPLICATIONS IN LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS (LCD)
7.1.LED backlight units in LCD
7.2.Replacing phosphors with quantum dots
7.3.Three integration approaches
7.4.Comparison of each approach
7.5.A new approach on its way?
7.6.Protecting the dots
7.7.Color IQ from QD Vision
7.8.QDEF film from Nanosys
7.9.3M selling QDEF films to display manufacturers
7.10.LMS
7.11.Dai Nippon Printing (DNP)
7.12.Qlight (Merck)
7.13.Summary: Edge optic vs Film
7.14.Understanding color standards
7.15.How LED backlights reduced color performances
7.16.100% sRGB can be achieved without QD
7.17.The challenge of Rec 2020
7.18.Competition with new phosphors
7.19.Competition with OLED
7.20.First commercialization: Sony
7.21.Sony Triluminos models in 2013
7.22.Sony Triluminos in mobile displays
7.23.Medium-size displays with quantum dots
7.24.Samsung SUHD
7.25.LG ColorPrime
7.26.TCL television with Color IQ
7.27.More models with Color IQ in 2015
8.APPLICATIONS IN EMISSIVE DISPLAYS
8.1.QLED: quantum dot LED
8.2.Main advantages over OLED
8.3.Comparison: OLED materials v.s Quantum dots
8.4.QLED are improving fast
8.5.Nanophotonica
8.6.Samsung's first "full color" QLED display
8.7.Progress from QD Vision
8.8.ZnSe
8.9.White-blue emission from silicon QD
8.10.Short lifetime
8.11.Printed displays
8.12.Progress on printed OLED
8.13.Kateeva
9.APPLICATIONS IN LIGHTING
9.1.Achieving high CRI
9.2.The Nexxus R30 lightbulb
9.3.Lumeon
9.4.Pacific Light
9.5.Nanoco
9.6.Osram
9.7.Recent collaboration: Marl Partner
9.8.Towards an on-chip solution
9.9.The problem with narrow emission
10.PHOTOVOLTAIC
10.1.Many competing technologies in PV
10.2.Quantum dot PV is still in early stage
10.3.Comparison of efficiencies
10.4.Quantum dot PV: SWOT analysis
10.5.Latest review on quantum dot PV technologies
10.6.Slow progress in the industry
10.7.Solterra
10.8.Magnolia Solar Corporation
10.9.QD solar concentrator (UbiQD - Los Alamos)
10.10.Advantages of QD solar concentrators
11.SENSORS
11.1.InVisage's Quantum Film
11.2.Comparison with silicon
11.3.Partnership with TSMC for hybrid CMOS sensors
11.4.Optical and infrared sensors
11.5.NikkoIA
12.OTHER APPLICATIONS
12.1.Hydrogen production
12.2.Visible light photocatalysis
12.3.Sunscreen
12.4.Lasers
12.5.QDChip spectrometer
 

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Quantum dots will enable a market for devices and components worth over $11bn by 2026

Report Statistics

Slides 138
Forecasts to 2026
 

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