Quantum Materials Corp. (fka QTMM)

[Jamis1]

2014 Quantum dot developments and QMC

Thick shell (giant) quantum dots - Improvement almost completely suppresses blinking.
“Commercial product lifetimes can be increased in QD-LCD backplane displays, solid state lighting films and projection lighting because the thick-shell technology has demonstrated the ability to extend the service life of quantum dots exposed to higher temperatures and/or high intensity light. Further, non-blinking quantum dots that can produce higher light output with less heat generation will spur new product development and optimized design.”
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quantum-materials-secures-los-alamos-thick-shell-quantum-dot-technology-to-increase-brightness-and-stability-in-consumer-electronics-246123151.html

New Los Alamos approach may be key to quantum dot solar cells with real gains in efficiency (4 times gain to carrier multiplication)
http://www.lanl.gov/discover/news-release-archive/2014/June/06.18-quantum-dot-solar-cells.php

Improving Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes: One Step Closer to Lighting Up Your Room (reduced recombination which allows for better electron transport)
http://science.energy.gov/bes/highlights/2014/bes-2014-05-a/

Improving a new breed of solar cells: Quantum-dot photovoltaics set new record for efficiency in such devices, could unlock new uses. (MIT sets new record of 9% conversion efficiency for a quantum dot solar cell.)
http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/improving-new-breed-solar-cells-0527

Summary and application to solar cells (based on my understanding of nuclear physics):
With the LANL thick shell technology, gains of up to 4 times have been realized. When combining that with reduced auger recombination and the 9% conversion efficiency from MIT (assuming non-shelled quantum dot was used), my theoretical quantum dot solar cell efficiency is between 18 and 36%. Hybrid cells using quantum dots and other materials may see large gains by absorbing more of the solar spectrum.

Display sector developments:

Samsung, LG turn to quantum dots as OLED still too pricey (big display makers are going to produce Qdot TVs in 2015. Various articles are declaring they will be heavy metal free quantum dots, no cadmium.)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/30/us-samsung-elec-lg-elec-television-idUSKBN0IJ2LV20141030

Quantum Materials Acquires Bayer Technology Services Quantum Dot Manufacturing and Quantum Dot Solar Cell Patents (included heavy metal free, high yield InP/ZnS nanocrystals)
http://www.qmcdots.com/press/press31.php

In/P (non-heavy metal quantum dot) improvement info (Chess provided a good summary in this post):
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=107985634

Summary and application to displays:
QMC has intellectual property to produce InP/ZnS quantum dots which are heavy metal free. Improvements have been made in the performance of InP/ZnS quantum dots by use of shelling. QMC can produce shelled quantum dots using their patented continuous flow production process. It’s likely that we may see a display prototype released at CES in January 2015 that contains QMC’s InP/ZnS quantum dots.

Quantum Materials Corp to Quadruple Lab Space and Add Scientists
“It is extremely gratifying that our work is meeting with industry acceptance from some of the most technologically advanced companies in the world," said Quantum Materials Founder and CEO Stephen Squires. "Our expansion demonstrates our commitment to meet the demands of next-generation television and display, solid-state lighting and solar energy manufacturers. We will be bringing to San Marcos top scientists and chemists to develop non-heavy metal tetrapod quantum dots and thick-shell technology to optimize them for each client’s purpose and to their true commercial potential.”
http://www.qmcdots.com/press/press.php

Competition Summary:

Dow/Nanoco:(Non-heavy metal quantum dot patents)
Dow Electronic Materials to Build First, Large-Scale Quantum Dot Manufacturing Operation in Korea (Dow licensed Nanoco’s heavy metal free quantum dots)
http://www.dow.com/news/press-releases/article/?id=6627
Speculated Dow capacity to be 2,400kg by 2016 and further to 4,800kg by 2017.
http://www.iii.co.uk/articles/194183/nanoco-has-very-bright-future

Nanosys: (heavy metal quantum dot patents)
“1,000 kilograms per month of our Quantum Dot Concentrate™ or enough material for approximately 100 million 10” tablet displays per year.”
http://www.nanosysinc.com/who-we-are/
This is 0.12 grams of concentrate per 10” screen (less than 100 square inches). The article below estimates 0.7 g for a 60 inch TV (about 1500 square inches). This means that Nanosys needs 1.8 grams for a 60 inch TV (250% increase in concentrate amount needed). Using this math, Nanosys quantum dot production capacity is 4800 kg/yr.
http://genesisnanotech.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/the-rise-of-the-nanoco-nano-and-the-efficiency-game-quantum-dots-in-solar-leds-and-lcd-tvs/

QD Vision: (heavy metal quantum dot patents)
I couldn’t find production capacity for them at this time, but they were ramping up.
http://www.qdvision.com/content1592

QMC’s position Summary (personal opinion applied):
QMC is scaling up. Most companies don’t expand from their initial production line unless demand is present. Although we haven’t heard of any contracts or sales, QMC is likely slated to obtain those contracts or sales soon. Non-disclosure agreements are currently in place and QMC will likely have to wait for a customer to announce their product before QMC will be able to be affiliated with the company publicly. I believe based on all this evidence that QMC is poised to successful see its first sales/contracts within the next 3 months.