Nanoco Technologies

Commercial uses of quantum dots

The current portfolio of Nanoco Technologies’ commercial activities is focused in four specific application areas. In each of these areas we work with partners, commercially-in-confidence, combining our expertise to bring innovative, attractive new products to market more quickly.

• In the field of electroluminescent displays, Nanoco’s light emitting quantum dots are being implemented in a range of next-generation displays, where they provide brighter images, lower power consumption, improved colour purity and longer screen life. Quantum dot screens also enable more cost-effective manufacturing with less material waste. This market is anticipated to be worth in excess of $15.5bn by 2015.
• Solid-state lighting which makes use of second generation quantum dots to dispense with the need for either incandescent bulbs or compact fluorescent lamps can deliver high quality white light at a fraction of the energy consumption and with unrivalled efficiency, resulting in domestic and commercial lighting products which can literally “last a lifetime”. In addition to the positive global environmental impact of this technology, the market is predicted to be worth $30bn by 2025.
• In the drive to deliver the one-dollar-per-watt efficiency goal for PV cells, CIGS nanoparticles provide an ingenious solution. The photogenerated excitons of these nanoparticles can be harnessed, providing a source of energy. Solar cells composed of CIGS nanoparticles are a fraction of the cost of traditional solar cells to manufacture, they are physically robust and flexible, and operate at high efficiency even in low light conditions. Again, the positive environmental implications of this technology are clear, and the market is anticipated to grow to excess of $7bn by 2015.
• Applications for quantum dots in the area of biotechnology and medicine include surgical use (eg illuminating specific cancer cells to facilitate removal), drug discovery and diagnostics, where new non-toxic nanoparticles are opening up therapeutic options in a wider range of non-critical illnesses. This is already a $3bn market and growing.

While these are our core areas of developmental focus, Nanoco Technologies maintains an interest in a wide range of developing applications for quantum dots. We view quantum dots as a “platform technology” which enables paradigm-shift thinking across the board.

R&D professionals wishing to discuss proposals for future quantum dot applications should contact Nanoco Technologies directly. Email info@nanocotechnologies.com or call +44 (0)161 603 7900.

To find out more about the application areas we are working in and other application areas, please explore the links in the SUB MENU.