Quantum Dots: The Next Generation of Display Innovation

Quantum dots are ultra-fine semiconductor particles that are tens of thousands of times thinner than a human hair. Since inception, their physical characteristics that allow them to provide the highest level of color accuracy and brightness among existing materials had them positioned to revolutionize display technology.

When used in displays, quantum dots support a wide color gamut that closely matches colors perceived by the human eye and facilitate pixel-level light adjustment for more accurate black levels. Emitting light in all directions, quantum dots deliver uniform luminance and consistent color from any viewing angle while minimizing blue light exposure for a more comfortable viewing experience.

What Sets Quantum Dot TVs Apart: Content, Film Quality and No-Cadmium Technology

The TV industry continues research and development into the commercialization of quantum dots as the material becomes a game-changer in display technology. For that reason, a variety of quantum dot TVs have hit the market recently — offering a wide range of options to customers.

However, key differences in quantum dot TVs lie in how the technology is implemented and the overall quality of the display. To ensure a premium viewing experience, factors such as the amount of quantum dot content, the quality of quantum dot film and the use of no-cadmium materials must be considered.

Quantum Dot Content

The true quality of a quantum dot TV is defined by its quantum dot content. The quantum dot film requires a minimum of 3,000 parts per million (ppm) of the material to achieve the vivid, rich picture quality and color expression that only quantum dots can deliver.

Quantum Dot Film

Samsung QLEDs eliminate the need for a separate phosphor layer, enhancing light and energy efficiency while delivering more vivid colors. A quantum dot OLED (QD-OLED), which consists of a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer,¹ a self-emitting light source and a quantum dot film that uses the light emitted from the light source, takes a step further enhancing picture quality. In either case, a dedicated quantum dot film that contains sufficient quantum dots is key in delivering top-class picture quality and longevity.

No Cadmium

In the early stages of developing quantum dot TVs, cadmium was essential to achieving the key benefits of quantum dots such as color reproduction and contrast ratio. At the time, cadmium was considered the most efficient material for producing quantum dots.

However, cadmium’s toxicity became a significant obstacle to the commercialization of quantum dot technology. The element posed serious threats to the environment — making its widespread use difficult despite being the most suitable material for implementing quantum dot technology.

In response to this challenge, Samsung developed the world’s first no-cadmium quantum dot material in 2014 and successfully commercialized quantum dot technology with its SUHD TVs in the following year to open a new era of quantum dot TVs.

10 Years of Quantum Dot Innovation and Leadership

Samsung has quickly recognized the potential of quantum dot technology and led innovation in the global display market over the past decade through continuous research and investment.

Samsung began researching and developing quantum dot technology in 2001 — at a time when there was limited research on non-cadmium materials. Achieving vivid colors required making the nano-sized particles uniform, but the lack of technology and research made mass production extremely challenging.

Despite these obstacles, Samsung succeeded in creating a no-cadmium nanocrystal material in 2014. Since then, the company has accumulated extensive expertise — registering more than 150 patents — and continuously worked on advancing the technology. Samsung’s long-standing commitment culminated in 2015 when the company unveiled the world’s first SUHD TVs with no-cadmium quantum dot technology.

Samsung’s QLED lineup was revealed in 2017, setting a new standard for premium TVs that overcame the limitations of OLED TVs. By applying metal quantum dot technology, Samsung achieved the Digital Cinema Initiative’s color standard DCI-P3 and achieved 100% color volume for the first time in the world — thereby presenting unparalleled color expression. Notably, the use of inorganic quantum dot technology protected the screens from burn-in² to ensure consistent picture quality over time.

Following its success in developing a red light-emitting element for displays in 2019, the company enhanced the luminous efficiency of blue self-emitting QLEDs — considered the most challenging to implement among the three primary QLED colors³ — to an industry-leading 20.2%.

“Discovering a blue material for self-emitting QLEDs and demonstrating industry-leading performance at the device level were significant achievements of this research,” said Dr. Eunjoo Chang, a fellow at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology. “Samsung’s distinctive quantum dot technology has once again overcome technical barriers.”

This cutting-edge advancements led to the launch of the QD-OLED TVs, making history at CES 2022 by winning the Best of Innovation award for integrating quantum dot technology and OLED displays.

Samsung remains dedicated to advancing quantum dot technology through continuous innovation. The company continues to invest in leading display technology — from SUHD to Neo QLED — by offering high brightness, color accuracy and frequency. Driven by Samsung’s unrivaled quantum dot innovations, the future of display technology is brighter than ever.

¹ An electronic circuit that adjusts and controls the light-emitting layers
² Occurs when a static image is displayed for too long, causing color distortions or ghost images to remain on screen
³ Red, green and blue

The Louvre has a fascinating and rich history; a former royal palace, it has been a cornerstone of French history for over eight centuries. Open to the public since 1793, the Louvre’s collections are among the finest in the world, spanning several thousands of years and regions of origin from America to the borders of Asia and beyond. Divided into eight departments, it houses some of most recognizable art pieces in the world, including the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Venus de Milo.

Samsung Newsroom spoke with Yann Le Touher, Head of Development, Brand Licensing and Commercial Partnerships at the Louvre, to learn more about what users can expect from this exciting partnership.

▲ Pyramide et Palais du musée du Louvre (2021) by Nicolas Guiraud

LFH (Louvre From Home)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyday life has been flipped on its head. The arts and entertainment were among the industries hardest hit, but that didn’t stop the public’s yearning to enjoy cultural pursuits. In order to allow people to still be able to experience its collections, the Louvre sought out new and innovative method of sharing art including uploading its entire art collection online.

According to Le Touher, this has been a crucial step in making sure the Louvre accomplishes its main mission of sharing art with as many people as possible. “It is important to share knowledge on as many of the artworks preserved at the Louvre as possible,” highlighted Le Touher. “We believe this online platform, which presents thousands of our artworks, is useful not only to art historians and researchers, but also art lovers.”

▲ Mona Lisa (1503-1519) by Leonardo da Vinci

Samsung and the Louvre’s partnership is in line with the goal of bringing artwork closer to art fanatics around the world thanks to Samsung TVs’ pristine picture quality and lifelike images. The Frame is known for its ability to display images that look remarkably like physical prints and paintings, with the screen’s signature Quantum Dot technology making colors more vibrant and contrast sharper. “We were impressed by the features offered by The Frame and were interested in the idea of bringing art into peoples’ homes as well as making it more accessible,” noted Le Touher.

As an iconic structure itself, photos of the Louvre itself are also available, bringing Parisian chic directly to you so as to bring the entire Louvre experience to your home. The Art Store provides access to an expansive range of artworks from world-renowned galleries and museums directly to your home, elevating any living space.

Find Your Inspiration

The Louvre has cemented itself as a place of inspiration for artists and art-enthusiasts alike. “The greatest architects, painters, sculptors, and craftsmen not only imagined and embellished the palace, but also lived, worked, and exhibited their work at the Louvre for over three hundred years,” said Le Touher.

In September, the Louvre opened its latest exhibition dedicated to Greek art. This project highlights the cultural, historical and artistic links between France and Greece in the 19th century and shows how the rediscovery of Greek antiquity changed the European view of Greece.

Thanks to The Frame’s ever-growing library of art some of that inspiration can now be yours too. There are 40 pieces of artwork from the Louvre and photographs of the iconic building, available on the Art Store today.

▲ Le Sacre de Napoléon (1806-1807) by Jacques Louis David 

“Our selection of artworks from the Louvre include great masterpieces, such as the Liberty Leading the People, and the Grande Odalisque,” noted Le Touher. “We also want to promote lesser-known paintings that are important and meaningful in art history.” The Louvre and the Art Store partnership has, for example, added the painting Deux chiens de chasse liés à une souche (1548) by Jacopo Bassano, a monumental piece as the first animal portrait in Western painting, albeit less known than works such as the Mona Lisa.

“We are proud to be part of the partners highlighted in the Art Store,” affirmed Le Touher. “Thanks to Samsung’s technology and innovation, we have the opportunity to give people the impression of having a reproduction of their favorite work at home. Obviously, this does not replace a visit to the museum but we strongly believe it can bring inspiration and joy to many homes.”

Samsung’s lifestyle TV The Frame is known for its ability to recreate images that look remarkably like physical prints and paintings, with quantum dots in the panels making colors more vibrant and sharpening contrast. The Frame has been offering curated selections since 2017, with the Art Store providing access to an expansive range of artworks from a host of eras and contributions from world-renowned galleries and museums.

Under its monthly theme of ‘Wild and Free’, the Art Store is featuring world-renowned photographer Tommy Clarke, whose aerial photography transports viewers to scenic, dreamlike destinations. Samsung Newsroom sat down with Clarke to learn about his creative journey and his work.

The View From Up Here

Ever since he first picked up a camera, Clarke knew that photography would allow him to capture his artistic vision in a way no other medium could. “I found I could most easily capture what I wanted to with a camera,” he says. “Plus, I’m able to have my camera with me at all times!”

And Clarke’s preference for aerial photography has led him all over the globe, from Miami Beach to Iceland, as he searches out interesting scenes to capture. “From there it becomes about whether I can get a helicopter or plane over the area,” he relates. “When the stars align, I pack a camera and go.”

Rather than orchestrate a scene, Clarke prefers to capture what’s naturally going on beneath him, flying high enough so that people aren’t looking up at him, but low enough so that he can capture those important details.

Capturing Incredible Colors Around the Globe

For Clarke, color is a vital element when it comes to getting the perfect shot. “The colors may be the most important part of my photos. It’s what first catches the eye and it’s why my photos hang on walls around the world,” he says. “Capturing incredible colors – be they from sand bars in Australia, or colorful beach towels in Saint Tropez – is what gives my photos their beauty.”

And technology plays a huge role in ensuring those colors are accurately reflected. On The Frame, which produces 100% color volume thanks to quantum dot technology, colors have a lifelike quality that truly communicates the artist’s intent. “I am used to world class printers and museum quality paper, so when I first saw my images on The Frame, I was blown away,” he notes. “The colors pop in the same way they do in a physical print.”

Redefining Norms

With technology like The Frame’s QLED display now available to him, Clarke says his craft is shifting. “I’d be willing to put on a fully digital exhibition now. Technology like The Frame gives me full faith that my images will be displayed exactly as I want them to be,” he says. “Given the choice of doing an exhibition with five screens on the wall showing images on rotation, or printing and framing forty images, I’d go for The Frame every time.”

What’s more, with The Frame users have access to an ever-growing library of art unlike any other. In Clarke’s opinion, “The best part about The Frame is that you don’t have to choose just one picture to hang on the wall. Often, people at my gallery are torn when deciding which picture to buy. But The Frame resolves this by allowing them to rotate the images they’re displaying.”

8 of Clarke’s pieces are available today on the Art Store and The Frame.

Versatility is one of the greatest strengths of Samsung’s award-winning lifestyle TV, The Frame. Not only does it offer customization to fit any home décor and stunning QLED picture quality, but the Art Store also transforms the user’s display into a window to the world. With over 1,500 pieces to choose from, including world-renowned artworks like Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ and partnerships with Magnum Photos, Etsy and a host of museums, the Art Store lets consumers embark on a premium virtual travel experience from the comfort of their home.

With July bearing the curation theme of ‘Summer Vibes’, Samsung Newsroom is introducing photographer Dean West, who travels across continents to take pictures that capture things like the intensity of the desert heat, the refreshing first step into a luxury pool and the feeling of the sun on a tropical beach. West strives to give viewers an escape from reality with his art, and always finds himself coming back to landscapes that are warm and bright – or, as he describes them, “the places you’d rather be.”

With West’s work perfectly encapsulating the theme of ‘Summer Vibes’, Newsroom spoke to the photographer about some of his top picks from the Art Store and why The Frame is the ideal platform for displaying his work.

▲ Pink Dreams #1, Miami Shores 2020

Showcasing Carefully Crafted Scenes With Quantum Dot Technology

Vibrant colors are a key aspect of West’s artfully orchestrated scenes. “When photographing a scene, I always try to capture the essence or the feeling of a place,” says West. “Color is one way of communicating that. For example, when capturing my pool scenes, the feeling I’m going for is that moment when you first take off your sunglasses – when the sun bounces off the walls into the glistening pool. A colorful array of swimsuits and sunscreen-soaked skin are made visible, and color plays a beautiful role in capturing that essence.”

▲ St Pete Beach, 2016

The Frame’s QLED 4K picture quality offers the perfect medium for West’s work to be showcased to thousands across the globe. Quantum Dot technology allows more than a billion colors to be displayed at 100% color volume, allowing West’s artistic intent to shine through on a bright screen with vivid and accurate color reproduction. The cutting-edge display technology analyzes every piece of each image and adjusts the contrast to give it an enhanced sense of depth and color for a stunning result every time.

“The technology used provides such a harmonious viewing experience that it has to be seen to be believed,” relates West. “The display’s ability to reproduce color and light is so good that photographers and viewers from around the world can’t help but express their admiration. On top of this, The Frame gives users from all corners of the globe quality access to works that they may otherwise never have seen. This alone is something I truly respect.”

West describes ‘art’ as a series of complex images that blend into a single idea. He adds, “Understanding light is at the heart of creating imagery that are vivid and bright. Any person can put themselves in the right place at the right time and capture something beautiful, but learning to blend complex images takes years to master. The keys are to be curious, do your research and make the time to create.”

▲ Eagle Rock Office, Los Angeles 2019

How Technology Is Making the Art World More Accessible

Technology plays a key role in expanding access to art. It provides a multitude of platforms on which work can be displayed and accessed by a broad range of users on different devices. And The Frame is one of those devices. “We’ve already seen how wonderfully the worlds of art and tech are merging,” West remarks. “Artists have always used the best tools available to them at the time, and they will continue to do so as technology advances.”

The Art Store provides access to an expansive library of artworks to appeal to every taste, mood or setting. This ever-growing collection features pieces from a wide range of eras, as well as contributions from 47 global partners and 626 artists so far.

Fifteen of Dean’s pieces are available today for display on the Art Store and The Frame.

Offering significantly improved colour performance, Samsung’s 2017 QLED TVs are the first in the world that are capable of reproducing 100 percent colour volume. This means that all colours of the DCI-P3 colour space can be expressed regardless of differing levels of luminance between 1,500 and 2,000 nits. This ensures that High Dynamic Range (HDR) images can be viewed in the way the content producer intended.

This breakthrough is a result of Samsung’s adoption of a new metal alloy Quantum dot material, which allows the TV to express a significantly improved range of colour with much greater detail compared to conventional TVs. The new Quantum dots enable Samsung’s QLED TV to express deep blacks and rich detail no matter how light or dark the scene is, or whether the content is being played in a brightly lit or darkened room. Furthermore, the display’s enhanced picture quality is maintained regardless of how wide the viewing angle may be.

Learn more about the picture quality of the 2017 QLED TV in the video below.

For additional information about the picture quality of 2017 QLED TV, check out the following links:

QLED TV Color
QLED Contrast
QLED HDR
QLED Viewing Angle

Samsung’s curved gaming monitors come with Quantum Dot technology that enables more vibrant and natural colours. The overall affect is an incredible true-to-life picture on screen.

The added luminance gives these monitors a 3000:1 contrast ratio and reveals previously-hidden gaming details in both light and dark settings.

“Gamers are demanding advanced display technologies in monitors in order to experience every nuance of a game. The launch of this curved gaming monitor is a step in that direction and I am sure that it will be a trend-setter in the gaming zone,” said Mr. Puneet Sethi, Director, Consumer Electronics’ B2B Business at Samsung India Electronics.

Designed specifically for professional and hardcore gamers, the LC24FG70 and LC27FG70 curved gaming monitors unite the visual refinement of Samsung’s Quantum Dot picture technology, with the comfort and widespread view of its curved gaming monitors to create the ultimate gaming experience. A host of gamer-friendly features provide more customized and enjoyable experience. Various ergonomics such as HAS, Pivot, Swivel, Tilt provide an optimized gaming experience.

By combining Samsung’s advanced motion blur reduction technology with its VA panel, the LC24FG70 and LC27FG70 gaming monitors produce a 1 ms moving picture response time (MPRT). The rapid MPRT rate reduces display transitions between moving and animated objects, and in turn eliminates potential visual distractions.

The LC24FG70 and LC27FG70 also leverage integrated AMD FreeSync Technology over HDMI functionality to synchronize the screen’s 144 Hz refresh rate with users’ AMD graphics cards. This minimizes image tearing, input latency and stutter that can disrupt gameplay and escalate visual fatigue.

The LC24FG70 and LC27FG70 curved gaming monitors have a range of user-friendly gaming UX that drive more convenient and easily-accessible game management. The CFG70 includes a dedicated gaming interface with an intuitive settings dashboard to better allow gamers to modify and personalize their gameplay settings. Each curved gaming monitor also offers a series of hotkeys on the front and back of the display for users to easily adjust gameplay settings.

Samsung’s curved monitors – LC24FG70 and LC27FG70 – are priced at INR 35,000 and INR 42,000 respectively.