First Solar taps quantum dots to supercharge its solar panels

Arizona-based First Solar has signed an agreement with quantum dot nanotechnology developer UbiQD (“ubiquity”) to bring quantum dots (QD) into its thin film bifacial solar panels. The multi-year deal could be a big leap forward for boosting solar efficiency.

This supply deal sets UbiQD up to scale to potentially more than 100 metric tons of QD production annually. It’s the next step after a joint R&D project the two companies started in 2023.

The partnership comes at a time when the US is scrambling to keep up with soaring demand from AI, data centers, and manufacturing.

“This is a turning point for the quantum dot industry,” said UbiQD founder and CEO Hunter McDaniel. The Los Alamos, New Mexico-based company says this is the first high-volume QD supply agreement outside of high-end TV displays. UbiQD’s goal? Better solar performance without blowing up costs.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

UbiQD’s core quantum dot tech came out of Los Alamos National Laboratory and MIT. When these tiny dots, just a few nanometers in size, are built into a solar panel’s encapsulant, the dots can more than double the bifacial quantum efficiency of light conversion for specific wavelengths and colors – a big win in a global race for more efficient solar.

Even incremental gains in bifacial performance can mean major energy gains at utility scale, said First Solar CTO Markus Gloeckler. “We’re excited about the potential for quantum dot technology to contribute meaningful gains to the performance of our bifacial modules.” The commercial rollout is set for late 2026.

The announcement follows UbiQD’s $20 million Series B round in April, which will help fund the build of a huge quantum dot factory in New Mexico.

Read more: FERC: Solar + wind made up 96% of new US power generating capacity in first third of 2025

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.