There are useful similarities in the underlying design

There are useful similarities in the underlying design and manufacturing technology for quantum dot solar cells and other printed electronics applications such as batteries, sensors, conductors, lighting, logic and memory," he said.

Squires noted LED/OLED displays will likely emerge as the second most significant market for printed electronics.

"When you can leverage a single enabling technology, such as our semiconductor quantum dots, to enter two or more different, but massive, markets without straying from your core competencies, the business opportunity is very compelling," he said.

Squires said there is a frenzied pace of amazing discoveries in light-related applications. However, it was clear new work would be limited in commercial application by raw material costs. Access to high quality, affordable quantum dots emerged as the key ingredient for a number of these exciting developments. When coupled with high-throughput, inexpensive manufacturing such as screen printing, we believe wide market penetration is inevitable.

The University of Arizona pioneering technology makes significant improvements over prior art. Organic LED / OLED based displays now have the potential to be manufactured using very high volume, low cost roll-to-roll print processing on inexpensive substrates.

In addition to the potential to deliver a significantly lower price point, this technology can also provide, higher definition, increased viewing angles, lower power consumption and reduced response time for an enhanced picture, all in a very thin, light weight, format. These characteristics enable display technologies to flourish in environments that have previously been uneconomical or simply not viable.