[Real Quantum Dot Guide] 10 Years of Samsung Innovations Redefining Picture Quality Standards

Quantum dots are a vital next-generation material used in a wide range of applications including displays, medical devices and solar cells. Back in in 2015, Samsung Electronics successfully commercialised the world’s first no-cadmium quantum dot technology with its SUHD TVs. Samsung followed up on its innovations and continued its legacy of quantum dot mastery through the launch of QLED TVs in 2017. Samsung Newsroom is taking the opportunity to look back over the last ten years and explore how quantum dots are taking Samsung displays to the next level.

Quantum Dots: The Next Generation of Display Innovation

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

When used in displays, quantum dots support a wide colour gamut that closely matches colours 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 colour from any viewing angle while minimising blue light exposure for a more comfortable viewing experience.

▲ SUHD TVs at CES 2015

What Sets Samsung’s QD TVs Apart: Content, Film Quality and No-Cadmium Technology

 The TV industry continues research and development into the commercialisation 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.

▲ Factors to consider when selecting a high-quality quantum dot TV

Quantum Dot Content

The true quality of a quantum dot TV is defined by its quantum dot content. Higher concentrations of Quantum Dots in the QD layer are required to achieve the vivid, rich picture quality and colour expression that QLED displays are known for.

Quantum Dot Film

Quantum dot displays have a simpler and more efficient structure compared to LCDs. Samsung QLEDs eliminate the need for a phosphor layer, as the QD layer itself, together with the blue backlight combine to enhance brightness and deliver more vivid colours. 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.

▲ A comparison of QD-OLED and LCD displays

No Cadmium

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

However, cadmium’s toxicity and environmental impact became a significant obstacle to the commercialisation of quantum dot technology. The use of cadmium in consumer electronics is permitted, but is subject to stringent safeguards as the material restricted under EU law^[2], making its widespread use difficult despite being the most suitable material for implementing quantum dot technology.

In response to this challenge, Samsung developed and patented the world’s first no-cadmium quantum dot material in 2014 and successfully commercialised quantum dot technology with its SUHD TVs in the following year to open a new era of quantum dot TVs. To this day, Samsung remains the only major TV brand to bring this technology to the market.

10 Years of Quantum Dot Innovation and Leadership

 Samsung was one of the first to recognise the potential of quantum dot technology and has led innovation in the global display market over the past decade through continuous research and investment.

▲ A timeline of Samsung’s quantum dot technology development from 2001 to 2022

Samsung began researching and developing quantum dot technology in 2001 — at a time when there was limited research on non-cadmium materials. Achieving vivid colours 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. As noted above, delivered another innovation in 2015 when it unveiled the world’s first SUHD TVs with no-cadmium quantum dot technology.

▲ QLED TVs (75Q8C and 88Q8F) at Samsung’s First Look 2017 event during CES 2017

Not wanting to stand still, Samsung further refined the technology when it released its first QLED lineup in 2017, setting a new standard for premium TVs. By applying metal quantum dot technology, Samsung achieved the Digital Cinema Initiative’s colour standard DCI-P3 and achieved 100% colour volume for the first time — thereby presenting unparalleled colour expression^[3] Notably, the use of inorganic quantum dot technology protected the screens from burn-in^[4] to ensure consistent picture quality over time.

▲ (From left to right) Kwang-Hee Kim, Dr. Taehyung Kim, Dr, Eunjoo Jang, Sungwoo Kim and Seon-Myeong Choi from Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology

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 colours^[5] — to an industry-leading 20.2%^[6]

“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.”

These cutting-edge advancements didn’t stop there. They 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.

Our latest Neo QLED models take things one step further by replacing standard LEDs with a higher number of mini-LEDs, allowing for even more detail, brightness, and vivid colours, and are even available with 8K resolution. It goes without saying that we complement the hardware with the latest software, including AI Upscaling and optimisation and now, Vision AI as well^[7]

Samsung remains dedicated to advancing quantum dot technology through continuous innovation. The company continues to invest in leading display technology — from QLED through QD-OLED to Neo QLED — by offering high brightness, colour accuracy and frequency. Driven by Samsung’s unrivalled 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]The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95 restricts the usage of cadmium to 100 ppm for materials used for most products

[3]Colour Volume: What it is and Why it matters for TV: http://bit.ly/2masnPw

[4] Occurs when a static image is displayed for too long, causing colour distortions or ghost images to remain on screen

[5]Red, green and blue

[6]https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-develops-industry-leading-blue-qled-technology

[7] Samsung Vision AI | CES 2025 | GLOBAL