Surprise in Silicon Valley. SmartKem and Nanosys have just announced an alliance with the aim of manufacturing low-cost flexible MicroLED and nanoLED displays. A new business model whose objective is to offer this type of panels at a very competitive price.
It is very likely that you do not know these companies, but to say that Nanosys INC is a leader in the development of QD and microLED technology, being one of the largest partners of Samsung. In 2021, we will ship 50 million panels for tablets, monitors and televisions with quantum dot technology.
About Smart Kem, This company has extensive experience in the field of semiconductors for displays, with technologies such as TRUFLEX®, an injection system in which a solution is deposited at low temperature, on low-cost substrates, to manufacture organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) circuits that are used in mini-LED and AMOLED panels .
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Flexible microLED and QD screens, the next goal of SmartKem and Nanosys
Now, as reported through a press releaseboth manufacturers have signed an agreement with the aim of uniting their technologies and cCreate a new generation of microLED and printed quantum dot (QD) materials in a low-cost solution for displays of all kinds.
According to both manufacturers, This alliance will allow the creation of a screen that combines MicroLED and nanoLED technologies to offer a new generation of low consumption, flexible and light screens. Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), notes: “There are significant synergies between these two companies and their joint development work has the potential to accelerate the opportunity to market for both companies.”
On the other hand, Ian Jenks, President and CEO of SmartKem, states that: “We have been working on next-generation organic thin film transistor (OTFT) technology for many years and have validated its readiness and availability to enable the fabrication of displays with advanced emitters such as Nanosys quantum dot microLEDs and nanoLEDs.”
«We are delighted to be working with SmartKem on this new display motherboard technology. We believe that display manufacturers are eager to use quantum dot microLEDs and nanoLED materials for new quality and cost effective display applications. If our joint development work is successful, they will have access to a comprehensive technology solution that meets their needssaid Jason Hartlove, CEO and President of Nanosys.
The objective is that, By applying its unique TRUFLEX® technology, SmartKem will provide OTFT backplanes to enable the fabrication of microLED displays using Nanosys electroluminescent quantum dot microLED and nanoLED technologies.
TRUFLEX® uses materials that it has developed and that stand out for offering much lower costs than other more common alternatives, such as LTPS. With this, they will be able to manufacture high-performance screens at affordable prices, since they could cost less than TFT technology.
We will have to see how far this alliance goes and for which markets these new flexible microLED and QD screens could reach, because they can be a cheaper alternative to LG’s rollable OLED solutions.
