Nanoco hopes to shine with LED lighting firm

NANOCO, the hi-tech Manchester company which makes quantum dots – microscopic fluorescent particles of semiconductor material which emit light – has announced a significant joint venture.
 
The AIM-listed company did not name its new partner, or disclose financial details, describing it only as “one of the world’s largest lighting companies which is already a major producer of light emitting diode (LED) lights”.

Nanoco said the objective of the development agreement is to incorporate its cadmium-free quantum dots into the lighting company’s LEDs to create LED lighting with superior performance.

LED lighting is acknowledged to have a number of advantages over traditional lighting, ranging from lasting longer, reduced power consumption,  compact size and shock resistance – but its colour performance is seen as a negative factor.

Nanoco says its quantum dots have been shown to overcome this limitation, opening up the possibility of the widespread use of LED lighting in commercial, residential and other settings.

It said: “The 12-month deal is expected to be followed either by further development work or by proceeding to product launch.”

Chief executive Michael Edelman added: “We believe that our technology has the potential to unlock the widespread use of LED lighting in offices, homes and elsewhere because we can deliver the required colour performance.”