Manchester-based Nanoco is supplying an innovative material for a new range of high-definition televisions manufactured by LG Electronics. It produces quantum dots —
tiny fluorescent particles of semiconductor material that have the ability to emit light. These are used by the makers of electronic goods because they consume less power than existing systems and are free of heavy metals such as cadmium.

Nanoco has a deal with Dow Chemical Co to produce the material; the latter is currently building a dedicated factory in South Korea. LG has just signed an agreement with Dow to supply the material for its Ultra HD TV range, which was launched at a trade fair in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Nanoco chief executive Michael Edelman said: “We are delighted that LG has entered into a formal partnering agreement with Dow, which has the scale and expertise to meet its quantum-dot requirements. The launch of LG’s Ultra HD TV at the Consumer Electronics Show is a major milestone for Nanoco; this is the first commercial product to incorporate our cadmium-free quantum-dot technology, and its colour quality is stunning.”