A portable electronic device (510) having a self illuminating display (200, 202, 204, 206, 300, 512) that reduces both the thickness of known displays and processing steps in the fabrication thereof is provided. The portable electronic device (510) includes an electrowetting display (200, 202, 204, 206, 300, 512) having a plurality of transparent layers defining a cavity (219). A combination of a first fluid (218, 236) and a second fluid (210, 234, 244, 254) are positioned in the cavity. First circuitry (224) is configured to be coupled to a first voltage source (222) for selectively repositioning the second fluid (210, 234, 244, 254) in relation to the first fluid (218, 236). A plurality of quantum dots (208, 360) is positioned within the second fluid (210, 234, 244, 254), and a light source (209, 309) is disposed contiguous to the plurality of layers. Second circuitry (228) is configured to be coupled to a second voltage source (226) for selectively causing the light source (209, 309) to emit photons to strike the plurality of quantum dots (208, 360). Additional similar stacks of layers (204, 206) may be added to provide a color display.