A　color　wheel　(CW)　is　one　of　the　most　essential　devices　for　contemporary　projection　displays　because　it　provides　the　color　initialization　definition　and　determines　the　color　performance　of　the　whole　system.　However,　conventional　color　wheels　remain　limited　in　terms　of　color　performance　and　efficiency　because　of　the　light-absorbing　material　and　time　sequential　color　generation.　Quantum　dots,　found　in　1981　and　known　as　a　kind　of　quasi-zero-dimensional　nanomaterial,　exhibit　excellent　features　for　displays　due　to　their　quantum　confinement　effect,　which　won　the　2023　Nobel　Prize　in　Chemistry.　Inspired　by　this,　the　paper　systematically　demonstrates　a　quantum-dot　color　wheel　(QD-CW)　device　through　theoretical　derivation,　simulation　analysis,　and　experimental　verification.　The　theoretical　model　to　define　the　duty　circle　ratio　is　presented　for　the　QD-CW　and　verified　by　Monte　Carlo　ray-tracing　simulation.　In　terms　of　experimental　verification,　the　QD-CW　device　is　realized　by　multiple　rounds　of　a　photolithography　process,　and　then　assembled　into　a　blue　laser　pumped　projection　prototype　for　full-color　display.　The　chromaticity　coordinates　of　white-balanced　output　are　finally　located　at　(0.317,0.338),　which　matches　well　with　a　standard　D65　source.　The　color　gamut　area　of　the　QD-CW　device　reaches　116.6%　NTSC,　and　the　average　light　conversion　efficiency　(LCE)　of　the　prepared　QD-CW　is　57.0%.　The　proposed　QD-CW　device　has　∼40%　higher　color　gamut　area　and　1.2×　higher　LCE　than　a　conventional　CW　device.　These　exciting　findings　show　a　groundbreaking　approach　to　color　generation　in　projection　displays,　which　are　expected　to　shed　light　on　other　high-quality　display　applications.　©　2023　Optica　Publishing　Group.