Samsung’s Quantum Dot (QD) technology received a safety certification from the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, it was announced yesterday.
Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS SA), known as the global institute for quality and safety standards in Switzerland, certifies Samsung’s quantum dot film cadmium-free.
In a breakthrough for both industry and academia, the certification comes after Samsung successfully developed the world’s first no-cadmium quantum dot material in 2014.
The discovery produced subsequent TV lineups such as the QLED and more recent QD-OLED, which consists of a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer, self-emitting light source and quantum dot film.
Taeyong Son, executive vice president of visual display business at Samsung Electronics, said the certification demonstrates the company’s commitment to quantum dot TV innovation.
Quantum dots, particles thinner than a human hair, create vivid colour accuracy and contrast ratio – but were previously produced using cadmium, a material restricted under EU law for its toxicity and environmental impact.
Samsung’s QD technology, which offers a simpler structure than LCDs, supported a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2023 and now paves the way for commercialisation after research efforts began in 2001.
Samsung Newsroom UK: A comparison of of QD-OLED and LCD displays
Doh Chang Lee, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), said: “Research trends in the academic community shifted noticeably before and after the release of Samsung’s quantum dot TVs.
“Since its launch, discussions have increasingly focused on practical applications rather than the materials themselves, reflecting the potential for real-world implementation through display technologies.”
In recognition of its fast response times, deep blacks and high contrast ratios, QD-OLED technology is the recipient of the Best of Innovation Award at CES 2025.
The global tech event held in January also saw Samsung debut Vision AI, a smart screen concept analysing intent and habits.
According to market research firm Omdia, the consumer giant maintains its number one ranking since 2006 in the global TV market with a 28.3% share in 2024.
Images: Samsung Newsroom UK