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LG Display Invests in Nanosys
September 10, 2018

 
LG Display (LPL) disclosed that it purchased a $10m stake in US based Nanosys, a primary supplier of quantum dot technology to Samsung Display.  Nanosys has been an acquisition target after Samsung’s purchased the QD Vision IP assets in 2016, with South Korean chemical producer SK Global Chemical.  Nanosys licenses it’s QD IP to Samsung Display, who along with Chinese panel producer BOE use Nanosys IP to produce QD films that are part of their premium TV line-up.  Samsung produces their QD films through an affiliate, but Nanosys has production capabilities for 25+ tons of QD material[1], which is available to customers that do not wish to produce internally.
LG has no current panel offerings based on QDs, but there are many other uses for quantum dots in the TV space, such as their use as precision replacements for phosphors converting light from blue LEDs to white light for backlights and in creating color filters. However, LG has gone so far as creating a substitute for QDs, rather than adopting them in TV panels. Samsung Display is currently experimenting with combining IJP red and green photoluminescent QDs and vacuum evaporated OLED blue to produce a hybrid display. 
 
LGD’s investment in Nanosys (said to be ~4%) appears to signal a more concerted interest QD’s although such an investment hardly indicates a change in LGD’s attitude toward OLED.  The investment is likely a part of their longer-term goals toward both improving the quality of their OLED TVs and lowering the cost as quantum dot materials, and is a good sign for the quantum dot segment, especially for Nanosys, who seems to have the industry’s leadership position.