Sep 11 2008
Electronics.ca Publications, the electronics industry market research and knowledge network, announces the availability of a new report entitled "Quantum Dots: Technical Status and Market Prospects".
Quantum dots (QDs) refer to one of several promising materials niche sectors that recently have emerged from the burgeoning growth area of nanotechnology. QDs fall into the category of nanocrystals, which also includes quantum rods and nanowires. As a materials subset, QDs are characterized by particles fabricated to the smallest of dimensions from only a few atoms and upwards. At these tiny dimensions, they behave according to the rules of quantum physics, which describe the behavior of atoms and sub atomic particles, in contrast to classical physics that describes the behavior of bulk materials, or in other words, objects consisting of many atoms.
According to the new report available at Electronics.ca Publications, the global market for QDs, which in 2008 is estimated to generate $28.6 million in revenues, is projected to grow over the next 5 years at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 90.7%, reaching over $700 million by 2013. Following the initially modest revenues generated by standalone colloidal QDs - primarily serving the life sciences, academic, and other industrial research and development (R&D) communities - within the next 2 years several product launches with colloidal or in situ QD underpinning will bolster market revenue considerably.
The biggest growth sector will be in optics, according to the report, where QD-based lasers and other optical components will impact telecommunication applications. This segment is expected to be worth $52.0 million in 2010, increasing to over $212.0 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 59.8%.
The other significant growth sectors include: electronics with the launch of first-generation QD-based flash memory products; optoelectronics with several impending product launches in lighting and displays; and finally, in the energy sector with the first QD-based product enhancements. It is projected that in all of these markets the combined forces of technology push and market pull, due in part to the growing involvement of multinational companies, will lead to a marked increase in both colloidal and in situ QD production.
Stand-alone colloidal QDs are the only currently active segment, with expected revenues of $28.6 million in 2008. This should increase to over $106.0 million in 2013 for a CAGR of 30.0%. Following the initially modest revenues generated by standalone colloidal QDs, primarily serving the life sciences, academic and other industrial research and development communities, within the next two years several product launches with colloidal or in-situ QD underpinning will bolster market revenue considerably.
The electronics segment will see the launch of first generation QD-based flash memory products and is slated to generate $45.8 million in 2010 and $61.0 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 10.0%.
Quantum dots for applications in optoelectronics and solar energy are expected to launch in 2010. Estimated revenues for the optoelectronics segment in 2011 are $90.0 million. This should increase to $245.7 million in 2013, a CAGR of 65.2%. The solar energy segment should see revenues of $74.1 million in 2011 and increase to $96.3 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 14.0%.
Current and future applications of QDs impact a broad range of industrial markets. These include, for example, biology and biomedicine; computing and memory; electronics and displays; optoelectronic devices such as LEDs, lighting, and lasers; optical components used in telecommunications; and security applications such as covert identification tagging or biowarfare detection sensors.