Quantum Science Ltd (QS), a UK-based leader in short-wave infrared (SWIR) colloidal quantum dot (CQD) technology, has announced a new feasibility study to explore extending its novel CQD materials into the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) spectral range.
The project, part of Innovate UK’s Developing Semiconductor Hardware for Critical Technologies competition, will build on QS’s world-leading SWIR expertise to examine how the company can deliver its INFIQ® CQD technology to even more industries and applications by accessing wavelengths from 3-5μm.
MWIR sensors are vital for advanced applications in defence, aerospace, industrial monitoring, energy, and environmental systems, but existing detectors typically rely on costly, cryogenically cooled semiconductors. Through this study, QS aims to investigate the potential of scalable, solution-processable CQD materials and thin-film device structures as a lower-cost, energy-efficient alternative.
The project will evaluate the feasibility of synthesising and integrating new CQD materials with tunable MWIR absorption, assessing their optoelectronic properties. Unlike earlier academic studies, QS’s work will place a strong emphasis on scalability, manufacturability, and pathways to industrial deployment.
Dr Hao Pang, CEO of Quantum Science Ltd, commented: “At Quantum Science, our mission has always been to transform sensing technologies by developing innovative, scalable, and sustainable quantum dot solutions. Building on our global leadership in SWIR CQDs, this project enables us to take the next step into mid-wave infrared sensing, a strategically critical field for the UK. By addressing the technical and commercial feasibility of CQDs in this spectral range, we are laying the foundation for a future UK-led capability that could reshape multiple industries while enhancing national resilience in semiconductor hardware.
“This Innovate UK-funded feasibility study represents an important step in bridging the gap between laboratory advances and industrial-scale, UK-based production of MWIR technologies. If successful, the outcomes will provide the base for pilot-scale development, future industrial collaborations, and eventual commercialisation, strengthening the UK’s position in critical semiconductor hardware.”