Samsung Electronic intends to expand the use of quantum dots (QD) from TV display panels to include memory semiconductors, sensors, and batteries, according to a Business Korea report.

The company plans to use the material to differentiate and improve market competitiveness in electronics, semiconductors and develop innovative markets including biotechnology.

At a presentation at the 9^th International Conference on QD held at Ramada Plaza Jeju Ocean Front on Jeju Island on Thursday, Jang Hyuk Executive Vice President (EVP) of Samsung Advanced Institute pointed as QD technology develops and evolves, it will lead the growth of the display market. It will become increasingly important to invest in QD R&D to understand the crystal structure and synthesis process, improve the efficiency and add new functions.

Jang is the key figure of the group’s QD R&D technology, and is a world expert in energy conversion and storage technologies including automotive lithium-ion battery, flexible secondary battery and portable fuel cell batteries.

Based on Jang’s presentation, Samsung will advance its TV business with quantum dot technology, and third generation QD TV to be released next year will come with better color coordinates, color filters and lower power consumption.

TV displays is just a starting point for the group’s QD technology, the next steps include expanding applications to memory semiconductor, sensor and biotechnology sectors. Photo-detectors which can detect UV and IR rays, or even made into biomarkers in medicine or health applications. QD’s which are particles 10,000 times thinner than hair, can also improve the degree of integration in memory conductors.

According to the report, Samsung’s quantum dot technology is way ahead of competitors, and the company could strengthen the competitiveness in new businesses and increase added value.

A conservative forecast places Samsung Electronics quantum dot technology 1.5 years ahead of competitors, and generally is viewed as 2-years advanced from outsider observations, said Jang. “We produce far better products than companies which use cadmium quantum dot with our non-cadmium quantum dot technology,” he added.

The company has been investing in the quantum dot technology over a period of five years through Visual Display (VD) Business Division and Advanced Institute of Technology, said Jang. Moreover, the company started to invest in non-cadmium quantum dots much earlier than competitors, after assessments made by the Korean company pointed towards QD’s market potential.

Samsung will continue to invest in QD R&D, and is working with major research institutes in the field including U.C. Berkeley Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory, MIT and Seoul National University.