Quantum dot market worth over $11bn by 2026
According to a new report by IDTechEx, quantum dots will enable a market for devices and components worth over $11bn by 2026.
Quantum dots were discovered in the 1980s but commercialisation was slow. Interest in quantum dots peaked in the early 2000s when nanotechnology was still a favourite concept amongst investors. However, a lack of products meant that quantum dots were mostly used in research labs.
In the last three years, quantum dots have been back in the spotlight with the promise to make LCD screens more colourful and more energy efficient. Sony was the first to commercialise a quantum dot LCD TV in 2013 and there are now several companies (including Samsung) offering TVs with quantum dots.
As a type of semiconductor, quantum dots exhibit a photoluminescence which is particularly useful for improving colours in LCD. But quantum dots can also be used as electroluminescent materials: quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLED) have been in development for several years and they have a great potential for display applications. Quantum dots are also emerging as a promising material for other type of devices, most notably optical and infrared sensors.
With this is mind, the new report "˜Quantum Dots 2016-2026: Applications, Markets, Manufacturers Device and material forecasts in display, lighting, photovoltaic, sensors and life science' by Guillaume Chansin and Xiaoxi He, forecasts that the demand for quantum dots will grow from less than 100 kg today to several tons over the next decade.
