The First Full-Color Display with Quantum Dots

February 22, 2011 | Source: Technology Review

Color quantum dots and oxide thin-film transistors work together in this new active matrix display prototype. (Byoung Lyong Choi, Samsung Electronics)

Researchers at Samsung Electronics have made the first full-color display that uses quantum dots, promising to lead to brighter, cheaper, and more energy-efficient displays than those found in today’s cell phones and MP3 players.

Samsung’s four-inch diagonal display is controlled using an active matrix, which means each of its color quantum-dot pixels is turned on and off with a thin-film transistor. The researchers have made the prototype on glass as well as on flexible plastic,

Quantum-dots displays would consume a fifth to a tenth of the power of LCDs, says Samsung research Tae Ho Kim. They promise to be brighter and longer-lasting than OLEDs and could be manufactured for less than half of what it costs to make LCD or OLED screens.