Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), the R&D hub of the Korean electronics giant, has developed a cadmium-free blue quantum dot technology.
Blue is considered the most difficult color to implement out of the three primary colors used in quantum dot light emitting diode (QLED) displays. Last November, Samsung was able to develop red QLED technology.
Quantum dots are nanoparticles of semiconductor material that emit light or electrons when energy is applied to them, and vice versa, generating energy when light is applied. The technology is being used more widely for emerging displays in consumer devices such as tablets, laptops, monitors and televisions ranging in sizes between 13 in and 98 in. Quantum dots not only provide better image quality, color and brightness, but they are also developed without using harmful heavy metals.
The blue quantum dot has the largest band gap among the primary colors and rapidly oxidizes upon exposure to external light. This results in a short lifespan and low luminous efficiency. Samsung said up until now, the quantum dot industry has failed to develop the technology required for blue quantum dot LEDs.
SAIT was able to achieve a 20.2% improved luminous efficiency, 88,900 nits of maximum luminance and 16,000 hours of QLED lifetime in its blue quantum dots.
“Samsung’s distinctive quantum dot technology has once again overcome the limitations of existing technology in the industry,” said Dr. Eunjoo Jang, Samsung fellow. “I hope that this study goes on to help accelerate the commercialization of quantum dot light-emitting diodes.”
