Quantum dots were discovered in the 80s but commercialization has initially been slow. Interest in quantum dots peaked in the early 2000s when nanotechnology was still a favorite keyword amongst investors. However, a lack of products meant that quantum dots were mostly used in research labs.In the last three years, quantum dots have been back in the spotlight with the promise to make LCD screens more colorful and more energy efficient. Sony was the first to commercialize a quantum dot LCD TV in 2013 and there are now several OEMs (including Samsung) offering TVs with quantum dots.As a type of semiconductor, quantum dots exhibit a photoluminescence which is particularly useful for improving colors in LCD. But quantum dots can also be used as electroluminescent materials: quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLED) have been in development for several years and they have a great potential for display applications.Quantum dots are also emerging as a promising material for other type of devices, most notably optical and infrared sensors.IDTechEx forecasts that quantum dots will enable a market for devices and components worth over $11bn by 2026. The demand for quantum dots will grow from less than 100 kg today to several tons over the next decade. After some difficult early years, the commercialization of quantum dots is turning into a success story.