What comes after OLED?
With OLED-equipped TVs, displays, and different devices slowly changing into extra available at decrease costs, consideration is popping to what the following landmark shopper show tech might be.
Micro LED typically options in such discussions, however the tech just isn’t anticipated to start out hitting shopper units till the 2030s. Show makers are additionally taking part in with different futuristic concepts, like clear and foldable screens. However on the subject of know-how that might critically handle prime consumer considerations—like picture high quality, worth, and longevity—quantum dots appear essentially the most pertinent for the time being.
Quantum dots are already shifting within the premium show class, significantly via QD-OLED TVs and displays. The following step may very well be QDEL, quick for “quantum dot electroluminescent,” often known as NanoLED, screens. To not be confused with the QLED (quantum gentle emitting diode) tech already obtainable in TVs, QDEL shows haven’t got a backlight. As a substitute, the quantum dots are the sunshine supply. The anticipated result’s shows with wider shade areas than right now’s QD-OLEDs (quantum dot OLEDs) which can be additionally brighter, extra inexpensive, and immune to burn-in.
It looks as if QDEL is being eyed as one of the probably influential developments for shopper shows over the following two years.
When you’re into high-end show tech, QDEL needs to be in your radar.
What’s QDEL?
It’s possible you’ll know QDEL as NanoLED as a result of that is what Nanosys, a quantum dot provider growing the know-how, calls it. QDEL has passed by different names, similar to QLED—earlier than Samsung claimed that acronym for LCD-LED TVs that use quantum dots. You might also see QDEL known as QD-EL, QD-LED, or EL-QD. Because the alphabet soup suggests, there are nonetheless some issues to finalize with this tech. This text will principally use the time period QDEL, with occasional references to NanoLED.
If none of these names sound acquainted, it is most likely as a result of you’ll be able to’t purchase any QDEL merchandise but. Suppliers counsel that might change within the subsequent few years; Nanosys is concentrating on 2026 for industrial availability.
That timeline appears fairly bold, although, contemplating the restricted variety of prototypes we have seen and the constraints nonetheless going through QDEL (extra on that under). However even when we do not see QDEL for some time, there are causes to keep watch over the tech.
David Hsieh, senior analysis director for shows at analysis agency Omdia, instructed me by way of electronic mail that on the subject of shopper devices, he expects QDEL will most impression TVs, PC shows, and the automotive trade. If commercialized and mass-produced, QDEL can have a cost-to-performance ratio higher than that of OLED, however it could nonetheless battle to compete with LCD-LED on a value foundation.
A 2023 whitepaper (PDF) from Nanosys and manufacturing companion Sharp Show describes an inkjet printing manufacturing course of that’s relevant to QDEL displays and TVs. The photolithography course of is reportedly more durable as a result of quantum dots get broken within the course of, however it could possibly broaden QDEL functions to incorporate tablets, laptops, smartphones, wearables, and AR/VR merchandise. Jeff Yurek, Nanosys’ VP of promoting, confirmed to me by way of electronic mail that Nanosys expects to see QDEL merchandise made with photolithography come to market first.
