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Canon is developing a more cost-effective QD-OLED

New technology forgoes expensive metals for lead

[Photo: Canon]

According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Japanese imaging manufacturer Canon has developed their own quantum dot OLED technology. Typically, QD-OLED displays require indium phosphide, a rare material that is mostly only available in China. Because of the scarcity of the material, QD-OLED displays are considerably more expensive to produce than their alternatives.

See also: OLED panel production costs predicted to fall from now through 2026

Canon’s new QD-OLED tech forgoes indium phosphide, using lead instead. Lead is much more common, and can be readily available from recycled raw materials. The report claims that Canon is looking to establish mass production using lead by “the mid-2020s,” which will not only lower the cost of production, but also free the quantum dot market from China’s stranglehold on indium. While Canon already uses lead in place of indium in some of their compounds, the results are typically less durable than those containing indium. However, the company has harnessed their experience working with these compounds for other products (such as printer ink and toner), they have managed to produce a lead compound they claim to be as durable as indium.

Currently Samsung, TCL, and Sharp mass produce quantum dot displays containing indium, and these displays are typically around 20% more expensive than traditional OLED models. If Canon’s planned manufacturing process catches on, the industry might see an overall cost reduction in QD-OLED production, as well as lower prices for the end user.

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