Quantum Materials Corp announced that its cadmium-free quantum dots in a remote LED application successfully surpassed the 1000 hour continuous on-time durability test. The testing has been conducted with red and green quantum dots encapsulated in resin and mounted to blue emitting LED's (see diagram below), which are similar to the type of LED's used in standard LCD display back light units (BLU).

(Image: Quantum Materials)

The successful implementation of quantum dots with LED's has been slow to progress primarily due to the challenge of achieving the requisite reliability and durability to survive the heat generation inside the LED package without suffering thermal quenching and rapid performance deterioration. The QD-LEDs were under continuous power at 2.5 Volts DC at 70mA and were measured initially, incrementally and at the 1000 hour mark with no measurable degradation of intensity, peak emission or FWHM, which is the measure for color purity. The QD-LED packaged units will continue to be under power and measurements of key performance criteria taken through and beyond the 3000 hour test protocol.

(Image: Quantum Materials)

Quantum Materials Corp President and CEO Stephen Squires said, "passing the 1000 hour continuous on time milestone is a major achievement in proving our quantum dot and encapsulation technologies. They are the basis for the next generation of quantum dot solutions to improve the color rendering capability of flat panel displays -- which is moving QD's from the front of the LCD panel to the actual surface of LED's. Our team's ability to keep Quantum Materials on the forefront of nanomaterial implementation and discovery is true testament to their diligence and tireless efforts."

Semiconductor quantum dots have attracted tremendous attention for their unique characteristics for solid state lighting and displays. The pure and tunable spectra of QDs make it possible to simultaneously achieve excellent color rendering properties and high luminous efficiency when combining colloidal QD's with light emitting diodes (LED's) or Micro LEDs.

"Achieving 1000 hours of continuous illumination with zero degradation is an extraordinary accomplishment that can move the reality of true QD-LED technology one step closer to reality. It is even more so when you consider all our materials, regardless of whether they are prototype or production, are produced using our proprietary continuous flow production process enabling seamless scale-up to high volume production," said Toshi Ando, Quantum Materials Corp Senior Director of Business Development.

Mr. Squires concluded that "over the past six months we have made significant progress on our core mission of bringing to market a high performance, reasonably priced cadmium-free quantum dot film solution for large-form LCD display applications and we will report on this in the very near future. While we expect QD-infused film to be the preferred display solution for the next several years, the high heat durability and stability of our QD materials puts us in a strong position to enable the industry to make this transition to QD-LED on-chip solutions when that time comes."