The project, part of Innovate UK’s Developing Semiconductor Hardware for Critical Technologies competition, will build on the company’s expertise in SWIR to examine how it can deliver its INFIQ CQD technology to more industries and applications by accessing wavelengths from 3-5μm.
MWIR sensors are used extensively in defence, aerospace, industrial monitoring, energy, and environmental systems. However, existing detectors typically rely on costly, cryogenically cooled semiconductors. This study 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 look at whether it is possible to synthesise and integrate new CQD materials with tunable MWIR absorption, assessing their optoelectronic properties. Unlike many previous academic studies, QS’s work focus on scalability, manufacturability, and pathways to industrial deployment.
Commenting Dr Hao Pang, CEO of Quantum Science, said, “At Quantum Science, our mission has always been to transform sensing technologies by developing innovative, scalable, and sustainable quantum dot solutions. 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.”