As with all new technologies taking up incumbent status, the advent of LCD has seen organisations continually look for ways to improve colour performance while retaining optimum energy conservation and cost of production in the process. The next step in this process was to produce organic-LED (OLED) screens that improved colour balance, contrast, and energy efficiency by removing the need for a separate backlight in the screen.
Quantum dot (QD) enhanced TVs (also referred to as Quantum-LED, or QLED TVs) have been deemed the leading technology when it comes to colour performance, and energy efficiency, but have come across some significant stumbling blocks preventing a larger positive impact on the market landscape. Cadmium, using as a standard material in TV production for the past, has been listed as a restricted substance in the European Area and as such are no longer suitable for QLED TVs. Although they perform at significantly better colour performance levels than indium-based QDs, the use of cadmium in EEE is restricted by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances. The other competing technology, Indium, have been recorded with lower quantum yields leading to more energy used and lower quality and durability in TVs.
The SME Instrument project has allowed Avantama to optimise its proprietary production processes to achieve a robust QD technology that meets the high standards of Quantum Yield (QY), with minimal Full Width Half Measure (FWHM), at lower production costs. Avantama's QDs thus meet the market requirements of being the most powerful colour performances ever recorded on tests, regulatory compliant, and cost-effective in production.
