Quantum-dot (QD) manufacturer Quantum Materials (OTCQB:QTMM; San Marcos, TX) is taking early delivery of a new QD production system that the company says is more than eight times larger than its current installed capacity. The new continuous-flow process equipment will increase production capacity by 2000 kg and fits within a wet lab at company headquarters in San Marcos.
Quantum Materials' continuous-flow process, which it has patented, is smaller and less costly than conventional QD production hardware, thus eliminating the need for large factories, says the company. This will allow Quantum Materials to locate production facilities at or near large-scale customers' production sites, simplifying supply-chain management. Demand for QDs is growing fast, especially as light sources in HD televisions and displays.
"We note that as quantum dots offer new levels of performance, adoption by manufacturers has historically been tempered by concerns of sufficient, stable supply," says David Doderer, Quantum Materials vice president for research and development. "A few years ago I wrote an article predicting that a small-capital-expense flow system could be built to produce 30,000 kilograms of quantum dots per year for high-capacity solar projects. The delivery of this new automated system shows we are rapidly progressing on that path for multiple industries. We believe quantum dots will become the industry standard for 4K and 8K ultra-high definition (UHD) displays and that Quantum Materials will be a large part of that growth."
Quantum Materials CEO Stephen Squires notes that the multiple flow systems "provide agility in producing a wide range of Group II-VI and Group III-V quantum dots, whether composed of high-performing-low-use cadmium sources or cadmium-free, temperature stable QDs, metal oxides and other nanoparticles."
He notes that, in addition to the display market, relevant QD applications include industry-specific uniform nanosized catalysts for the automotive and broader combustion-related industries.
"Our rapid development and recent shipping of cadmium-free quantum dots is the first step to help manufacturers comply with RoHS restrictions on the use of cadmium in electronic devices before the exemption deadline. We are adding state-of-the-art research equipment and quadrupling lab space and scientific staffing to meet the needs of the LCD display, LED solid-state lighting, solar, and biotech manufacturing industries," Squires adds.