Insider Brief
- New Mexico-based Ubiquitous Quantum Dots (UbiQD) reportedly signed a joint development agreement with global solar-panel manufacturer First Solar Inc.
- The companies will investigate the incorporation of quantum dots directly into its solar panels to boost the electricity output.
- The deal was reported in the Albuquerque Journal.
PRESS RELEASE — A new joint development agreement between New Mexico-based Ubiquitous Quantum Dots (UbiQD) and global solar-panel manufacturer First Solar Inc. has the potential to transform the local startup into a significant supplier of quantum-dot technology, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
Since its establishment in 2014, UbiQD, headquartered in Los Alamos, has been dedicated to harnessing the power of nanoscale, three-dimensional structures known as quantum dots for solar energy applications, , the Journal reported. The company has already utilized quantum dots to create solar-generating windows and innovative plastic row covers for crops, enhancing greenhouse plant growth by manipulating sunlight.
First Solar is now collaborating with UbiQD to incorporate quantum dots directly into its solar panels, aiming to boost the electricity output of its panels. The Journal reported that the collaboration involves First Solar providing financial support for the necessary engineering and modification work required to adapt UbiQD’s technology into a quantum-dot-infused plastic film. This film could be seamlessly integrated into First Solar’s existing manufacturing process as a “drop-in” component, according to UbiQD founder and CEO Hunter McDaniel.
Quantum dots are nanoscale semiconductor particles that exhibit unique electronic properties due to their size, allowing them to emit light of specific colors when excited by external energy sources. Beyond solar cells, quantum dots have applications in a wide range of fields, including displays and medical imaging.
While specific details of the agreement remain confidential, McDaniel disclosed that it involves a substantial investment of at least $1 million from First Solar. This represents UbiQD’s most substantial deal to date in terms of financial magnitude, according to the newspaper.
The significance of this partnership extends beyond immediate financial gains. Company executives told the Journal that the deal could open the door for UbiQD to establish a strong presence in the mainstream solar industry, potentially through a future supply partnership with First Solar, one of the industry’s global leaders. This development could propel UbiQD into mass manufacturing, solidifying its position as a prominent player in New Mexico’s green-tech sector.
McDaniel provided insight into the ongoing efforts to integrate UbiQD’s technology seamlessly into First Solar’s existing manufacturing processes.
“We’re working now to create that drop-in process to integrate our technology with the manufacturing materials that First Solar is already using,” McDaniel told the Journal. “Under the agreement, First Solar is providing support for us to do that work. But when it’s 100% ready to go, First Solar will need a large quantity of material to also be ready, so we’re developing that manufacturing capacity alongside our work to fine-tune our technology.”
Assuming the current agreement evolves into a formal supply partnership, UbiQD could quickly transition into a major industrial green-tech company, courtesy of First Solar’s substantial manufacturing requirements. First Solar, a publicly traded firm, maintains extensive manufacturing operations in the United States and overseas, with a significant investment underway to expand its domestic capacity under the federal Inflation Reduction Act, which offers tax incentives to encourage the rapid growth of the U.S. manufacturing base for solar and other renewable technologies.
If you found this article to be informative, you can explore more current quantum news here, exclusives, interviews, and podcasts.
