Commercialisation of QDEL, a next-generation display technology based on quantum dot electroluminescent diodes, is accelerating. As global display companies speed up development with a goal of launching the first commercial products in 2028, competition over materials to solve the biggest technical bottleneck, blue emission, is also intensifying.

Polish quantum dot specialist QNA Technology has entered the race. QNA Technology specialises in developing heavy metal-free blue quantum dots. It has opened an office in South Korea and is moving to expand cooperation with the local display industry, including seeking Korean partners during Semicon Korea 2026 through the EU Business Hub programme.

Artur Podhorodecki (아르투르 포드호로데츠키), CEO of QNA Technology, said in a Feb. 20 interview that implementing a stable, efficient and reproducible light source in the field of blue quantum dots remains the biggest technical challenge. He said it is the key bottleneck in commercialising quantum dot-based technologies, including QDEL displays.

Unlike QD-OLED, QDEL is self-emissive, with the quantum dots themselves emitting light when powered electrically. It has higher colour purity and brightness than OLED, and it can also lower manufacturing costs if inkjet printing processes are applied, drawing attention as a next-generation display technology. BOE has previously projected commercialisation of cadmium-based QDEL by the end of 2028 and cadmium-free solutions around 2030. The industry expects small devices such as laptops to adopt QDEL first before expanding to large product categories.

The current limitation is blue. Red and green quantum dots have already secured considerable performance, but blue is the most difficult to achieve long life and efficiency because of its higher energy level. Achieving commercial-level performance without using cadmium remains an industry challenge.

QNA Technology says it is tackling this problem through a focus strategy. While competitors handle full-colour red, green and blue, it concentrates only on blue light sources. Podhorodecki said the company designs and controls the entire technology process in-house, from selecting precursors to purification strategies. He said it does not use heavy metals or rare earth elements, making it compliant with RoHS regulations and simplifying discussions on industrial integration.

The company currently has two product lines: PureBlue.dots (445 to 460 nm) for displays and DeepBlue.dots (420 to 445 nm) for biophotonics. It said PureBlue.dots has its emission wavelength optimised to secure both a wide colour gamut and eye safety. It has achieved an external quantum efficiency of 24 percent and, through a pilot production line launched last year, has secured volumes that can be supplied to Gen 4.5 display production lines, the company said.

A hurdle for QDEL commercialisation is lifetime. Device lifetime is affected not only by quantum dot quality but also by the performance and compatibility of adjacent layers such as ETL and HTL, the overall device structure, and manufacturing process parameters. QNA Technology said it is working with display industry partners and overseas university research groups and checking improvements on a quarterly basis.

Podhorodecki said heavy metal-free blue quantum dots are a relatively recent platform and have not yet reached the level of OLED or cadmium-based quantum dots. He said it is a matter of time rather than a structural limitation. He added that once lifetime indicators reach a mature stage, QDEL has the potential to surpass existing solutions.

QNA Technology accelerates push into South Korean display ecosystem, calls Korea a global hub

QNA Technology also aims to make its own QDEL diodes within this year. Podhorodecki said it has started a project to develop ETL compatible with its products. He said it would simplify device optimisation by providing an integrated material package, beyond simply supplying materials.

QNA Technology plans to gradually expand its presence in the South Korean market. It has established an office in Seoul and is expanding cooperation with local research institutions including Seoul National University. It is also working with small and medium-sized companies and universities in biophotonics.

Ink solutions are also a strength. The company is developing various formulations, including UV-curable ink, inkjet ink and quantum dots integrated into photoresists. Podhorodecki said each formulation is designed to match a customer’s specific printing process conditions. He said the key competitive advantage is customisation that allows customers to maximise use of their existing manufacturing infrastructure and process capabilities.

Podhorodecki said South Korea is a global hub where display technology and quantum dots are strategic priorities. He said combining South Korean industry, which has large-scale production capacity and strict quality standards, with the company’s heavy metal-free blue quantum dot technology could speed up QDEL commercialisation.