US Cadmium Free Quantum Dot maker Quantum Materials Corp has announced successfully surpassing the 1000 hour continuous on-time durability test for its cadmium-free quantum dots in a remote LED application.
The testing has been conducted with red and green quantum dots encapsulated in resin and mounted to blue emitting LED’s (see diagram above), which are similar to the type of LEDs used in standard LCD display back light units (BLU).
The successful implementation of quantum dots with LEDs 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 2.5V 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 colour 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.
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 colour rendering capability of flat panel displays – which is moving QD’s from the front of the LCD panel to the actual surface of LEDs.”
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 colour 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,” said Toshi Ando, Quantum Materials Corp senior director of Business Development.
Squires concluded:t “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.”
