US quantum dots (QD) supplier Quantum Materials has boosted its technology portfolio with the purchase of a set of patent families from Bayer Technology Services. The patents cover volume production technology for heavy metal-free (HMF) QD and nanoparticles; increasing quantum yields for HMF QD; and hybrid organic QD solar cell production, among other capabilities.
Stephen Squires, Quantum Materials CEO and president, says of the purchase: 'We acquired these patents to not only expand our technology portfolio in HMF and QD solar cell production, but also to protect the advances we have made to date in the volume manufacturing of nanoparticles, including QD.
'Bayer is a research pioneer in the nanotech and QD fields, and these early filings were awarded with broad claims. It will be very difficult for competitors to produce materials in volume similar to ours without breaching our patents.'
Heavy metal-free
The capabilities in volume production of HMF QD and yields (in terms of brightness) for HMF QD will help Quantum Materials deliver commercially viable quantities of this product category. Consumer electronics firms looking to move to QD-based displays, but conscious of the effects of toxic heavy metals such as cadmium (restricted by RoHS legislation, which limits their use), for instance, may specify the use of HMF QD.
The capabilities in volume production of HMF QD and yields (in terms of brightness) for HMF QD will help Quantum Materials deliver commercially viable quantities of this product category. Consumer electronics firms looking to move to QD-based displays, but conscious of the effects of toxic heavy metals such as cadmium (restricted by RoHS legislation, which limits their use), for instance, may specify the use of HMF QD.
David Doderer, Quantum Materials vice president of R&D, states: 'The HMF organic nanomaterials expand our high-performance product offerings, and the automated processes will bring down their cost, so manufacturers can begin planning adoption into real products at price points that expand market penetration of QD technologies significantly.'
The solar-related patents describe the fundamental design of QD solar cells, and processes for optimising QD for solar and other printed electronics applications. The solar patents enhance Quantum Material's licensed patent on printing OLED and QD solar cells, and other printed electronic devices, by gravure or high-speed roll-to-roll.
Doderer adds: 'Combining the solar patents with our automated volume QD production process opens the door for us to establish joint ventures for QD solar cell pilot plants worldwide.'
Efficiency
Bayer Technology Services is a subsidiary of Germany-headquartered enterprise Bayer. Via its Bayer Material Science business, the company has explored a number of nanotechnologies. In March 2013 the company announced the divestment of its carbon nanotubes developments to German firm FutureCarbon.
Bayer Technology Services is a subsidiary of Germany-headquartered enterprise Bayer. Via its Bayer Material Science business, the company has explored a number of nanotechnologies. In March 2013 the company announced the divestment of its carbon nanotubes developments to German firm FutureCarbon.
Earlier in August, Quantum Materials announced that it had achieved a calculated 95% quantum yield for Green Tetrapod QD, manufactured using the company's proprietary automated mass-production system.
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