Samsung Electronics will apply quantum-dot technology to make sensors, batteries and bio devices, as well as new TVs. Quantum dots are tiny semiconductor particles whose electrical and optical characteristics change when the size of a matter is reduced to a billionth of a meter.

Quantum dots (QD) are nanoscale semiconductor devices that tightly confine either electrons or electron holes in all three spatial dimensions. The electronic properties of the quantum dots fall between those of bulk semiconductors and those of discrete molecules of comparable size, and optoelectronic properties such as band gap, can be tuned as a function of particle size and shape for a given composition.

For example, the photoluminescence of a QD can be manipulated to specific wavelengths by controlling particle diameter.Larger QDs emit longer wavelengths resulting in emission colors such as orange or red. Smaller QDs emit shorter wavelengths resulting in colors like blue and green.

Because of the high tunability of properties, QDs are of interest in many research applications. They are dubbed as the next-generation light-emitting diodes. In addition, being a chemical synthesized inorganic substance, QD is cheaper and has longer life than organic matter-based organic light-emitting diode (OLED).

"There are a lot of sectors that could use quantum-dot technology and it could be our new growth engine," said Chang Hyuk, vice president of Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, at the 9th international quantum-dot conference held at Jeju Island on Thursday. "TV is the first device that utilized quantum-dot technology," he added.

Chang Hyuk said that that quantum-dot technology could be also used in memory chips. Utilizing the technology, the company could develop batteries with higher capacity and higher efficiency than the existing batteries.

He also stressed that quantum-dot technology could lead to the development of various sensors which are necessary for a variety of electronic devices related to self-driving cars and Internet of Things (IoT).

Samsung’s quantum-dot TVs, which have already advanced in technology, will further evolve. Samsung plans to release new quantum-dot TVs every year and further improve their performance,, in terms of brightness and viewing angles.

Obviously, Samsung's roadmap on next-generation TVs will not include OLEDs but QLEDs.

It is expected that new Samsung QLED TVs will come out in 2019.