The rapidly growing market for quantum dot-based displays currently uses quantum dots solely as converters of blue light into green and red light. However, to achieve displays with the highest technical performance and diverse functionality, it is necessary to use quantum dots as light sources themselves.

For this purpose, the dots must exhibit very high optical parameters, high stability, and should comply with the RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), containing no toxic metals such as cadmium, lead, or mercury. Meeting these criteria is particularly challenging for quantum dots emitting blue light — producing dots with emission in the 450–470 nm range is extremely demanding, both in terms of selecting a non-toxic semiconductor material with an appropriate band gap and due to the numerous technological challenges associated with synthesizing such a material.

The goal of the PureBlue project was to develop a synthesis technology for blue quantum dots enabling their use as an active material in electroluminescent blue light-emitting diodes.

As part of the R&D work, a complete, reproducible, and stable synthesis technology was developed, yielding a high-quality blue light emitter that meets both customer requirements and the requirements of the RoHS Directive. In the course of the project, an Experimental Pilot Line (EPL) was also purchased and commissioned, on which the developed technology was implemented and scaled up — increasing the production capacity of blue quantum dots approximately 300-fold. Toxic heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, lead, and arsenic) were eliminated in the process, with their content in the product reduced below the detection limit.

The outcome of the project is the final product — PureBlue.dot quantum dots with an emission of 455 ± 5 nm — which has been introduced into the company’s commercial activity.