Nanosys

Nanosys Inc.

Company logo
Type	Private
Industry	Nanotechnology Advanced Materials Consumer electronics Displays Batteries
Founded	2001 (2001)
Founder(s)	Larry Bock
Headquarters	Nanosys 2625 Hanover Street Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Jason Hartlove (President and CEO) John Page (CFO)
Products	Products list QDEF (Quantum Dot Enhancement Film) QuantumRail SiNANOde
Employees	100
Website	www.nanosysinc.com

Nanosys is a nanotechnology company located in Palo Alto, California founded in 2001.^[1]

Nanosys, Inc (Palo Alto) designs products based on a technology platform that incorporates high performance inorganic nanostructures. Its technology, products, and processes are covered by over 750 patents and patent applications that address a wide range of industries including LED backlighting, LED general lighting, power (batteries and fuel cells), medical applications, next generation NAND Flash memories, Solar, Flat Panel Display driver transistors, and specialized nano-surface coatings (super-hydrophobic, super-adhesive, super-hydrophilic, super-hemostatic).

Currently, Nanosys is focused on commercializing its quantum dot and silicon composite anode materials for the LED LCD and lithium ion battery industries.

Nanosys was founded by Larry Bock and Drs. Charles Lieber and Paul Alivisatos. They were subsequently joined by Drs Steve Empedocles and Wally Parce and Mr. Calvin Chow.

Major funders of the company include Venrock Associates, Samsung, Arch Venture Partners, Intel, El Dorado Ventures, Polaris Venture Partners, Prospect Ventures, Harris & Harris Group, Lux Capital, Kodak, and Wasatch Advisors.^[2]

Products

Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF)

Nanosys Quantum Dot Enhancement Film, or QDEF, is an optical film component for LED driven LCD displays. Based on Nanosys’ proprietary high efficiency Quantum Dot Phosphors, QDEF enables a new level of LCD display performance by providing a high quality, tri-color white light from a standard blue LED light source. Larger than a water molecule, but smaller than a virus, these tiny phosphors convert blue light from a standard Gallium Nitride (GaN) LED into different wavelengths based upon their size. Larger dots emit longer wavelengths (red), while smaller dots emit shorter wavelengths (green). Blending together a mix of dot colors allows Nanosys to precisely engineer a new spectrum of light to customer specifications.^[3]

Designed to replace the functionality of a diffuser sheet while actively converting color, QDEF can be added to an LCD's film stack with little change in overall thickness or manufacturing process (see Fig 1 at right)

QDEF was announced on May 17, 2011 at the Society for Information Display (SID) Display Week tradeshow.^[4][5]

Fig 1: Exploded diagram showing QDEF integration into a standard LCD display

QuantumRail

Announced just after CES in January 2010 as part of a commercial agreement with Korean consumer electronics manufacturer and LG subsidiary LG Innotek^[6][7] The quantum rail is a glass capillary optical component containing red and green quantum dots that is inserted between the LEDs and the lightguide panel (LGP) of an LED LCD display in manufacturing to improve color gamut.

Fig 2: QuantumRail LED LCD implementation diagram

Awards

Society for Information Display Best in Show 2011: Small booth category^[8]

Silicon Valley Business Journal Emerging Technology Awards: Winner, life sciences^[9]

Wall Street Journal 2010 Technology Innovation Awards: Runner up, semiconductors^[10]

References

1. ^ "Nanosys: Who We Are". http://www.nanosysinc.com/who_we_are/. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
2. ^ "Nanosys Closes Second Round of Series E Financing On Path to Commercialize Architected Materials for LCD and Battery Markets". October 26, 2010. http://www.nanosysinc.com/in_the_news/nanosys-closes-second-round-of-series-e-financing-on-path-to-commercialize-architected-materials-for-lcd-and-battery-markets/. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
3. ^ "The Economist: Dotting The Eyes, How tiny crystals can improve picture quality". June 16, 2011. http://www.economist.com/node/18833511?story_id=18833511. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
4. ^ "Nanosys Unlocks Full Color LCD Viewing Experience with Nanotechnology- Announcing QDEF". May 17, 2010. http://www.nanosysinc.com/in_the_news/nanosys-unlocks-full-color-lcd-viewing-experience-with-nanotechnology-announcing-qdef/. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
5. ^ "FastCompany: New Gadget Mantra: The Screen's The Thing". May 18, 2010. http://www.fastcompany.com/1754050/new-gadget-mantra-its-all-about-the-screen. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
6. ^ "Nanosys Completes Commercial Agreement with LGIT for its Quantum Rail™ Lighting Products". January 21, 2010. http://www.nanosysinc.com/in_the_news/nanosys-completes-commercial-agreement-with-lgit-for-its-quantum-rail™-lighting-products/. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
7. ^ "Nanosys and LG Innotek agree deal for newfangled LED-backlit displays". January 22, 2010. http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/nanosys-and-lg-innotek-agree-deal-for-newfangled-led-backlit-dis/. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
8. ^ "SID Award Announcement Press Release". May 18, 2011. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/society-for-information-display-names-winners-of-first-ever-best-in-show-awards-at-display-week-2011-122179769.html. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
9. ^ Duan, Mary (December 3, 2010). "Blood Clotting Technology Could Be Lifesaver". http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/print-edition/2010/12/03/blood-clotting-tech-could-be-lifessaver.html. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 
10. ^ Leger, John M. (September 27, 2010). "WSJ Tech Innovation Awards". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703860104575507662614225090.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 

Wired Green Boom

External links

• Video: Robert Scoble discusses Nanosys display technology with CEO Jason HartloveTemplate:US-manufacturing-company