Currently, Samsung’s QLED TVs have a QD sheet with five layers in this order: barrier film – PET – QD layer – PET – barrier film. In this five-layer structure, the two barrier films, which protect the QD layer from moisture and oxygen, make up for 40% of the cost of the QD sheet. 

According to The Elec, the South Korean tech giant is working with Hansol Chemical to develop a QD sheet that has only three layers in this order: PET – QD layer – PET to simplify the process and reduce the cost of manufacturing a QD sheet.

As there will be no barrier films, the QD layer will be exposed to moisture and oxygen. To overcome this problem, Samsung is reportedly planning to encapsulate individual QD particles to protect them from moisture and oxygen.

Samsung must make the process of encapsulating individual QD particles more affordable to manufacture than using barrier films to reap the benefits of developing a technology that gets rid of barrier films.

If the South Korean tech giant succeeds at that, it could reduce the cost of manufacturing QLED TVs. That could lead to Samsung having a higher profit margin, passing on the cost benefit to customers, and even competing with the Chinese TV manufacturers more fiercely.

According to The Elec, Samsung has been working on this for years now. However. “It will take time until mass production.”