A nanomaterials company at the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus in Cheshire that makes quantum dot inks for infrared cameras and sensors.
Quantum Science Ltd makes tiny crystals called quantum dots, which are so small that their size controls how they handle light. The company's main product line is INFIQ, quantum dots that absorb short-wave infrared (SWIR) light, which is light just beyond what our eyes can see. The dots are made into inks that can be turned into thin films and devices, such as photodetectors and image sensors. Infrared sensing helps with seeing through haze, spotting materials and working in low light, and the company lists uses such as machine vision for automation, hyperspectral imaging, medical imaging, LiDAR, drones and self-driving cars. Today the sensors that do this are often very expensive, and the company says its aim is to make high-performance infrared sensing affordable.
Its stated mission is to develop high-quality quantum dot inks that form defect-free, infrared-sensitive films and devices, enabling high-performance sensing at an affordable price. It describes the wider goal as "empowering the everyday life of the future with superior perception capabilities". Dr Hao Pang is the founder and chief executive, and before starting the company he was a vice president at a London Stock Exchange-listed technology company. The pages we read do not give a founding year. The company moved into new laboratory and office space in 2021, and in June 2022 said it had added staff to meet rising demand for INFIQ.
The company is registered in England and Wales, and its headquarters is at the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus, a science and technology site in Cheshire that hosts many research-based businesses. It lists support or partnerships with Innovate UK, the University of Manchester and the Henry Royce Institute, the UK's national centre for advanced materials research. The quantum label here is about quantum dots, which are nanomaterials, rather than quantum computers, so we flag it as a borderline fit for the sector.
The leadership team on the website includes Dr Cong-Duan Vo as chief technology officer, who leads research and development and has more than 20 years in materials research with over 30 papers and patents; Steve Kelly as non-executive chairman, a former chief executive of SmartKem and co-founder of Datalase; and Simon Wallwork as chief legal officer. Professor Richard Curry of the University of Manchester is technical advisor, and Professor Peter Skabara of the University of Glasgow is chief scientific advisor. The company presents itself as mission-driven, which is its own description.
Materials companies employ chemists and materials scientists who make and test the quantum dots, process and device engineers who turn inks into working sensors, quality and manufacturing staff, and commercial, legal and operations people. Chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering are the usual starting points. Check its website for current openings and projects.
Website: quantumscis.com
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