The cover of the July 16, 1998 issue of Nature features a remarkable new "smart material" that can be used to print electronically on a variety of surfaces, including paper, plastic, and metal. The electrophoretic ink developed in J. Jacobson's lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology consists of liquid with dispersed, oppositely charged black and white microparticles that are contained in microcapsules. Application of a potential results in migration of the microparticles to opposite sides of the microcapsule, thereby generating either a white or black image that depends on the direction of the potential. Unlike liquid crystal displays, the image generated with electrophoretic ink is stable even after the power has been turned off. Cost and resolution of this new technology compare favorably with most other electronic image display systems currently in use or under development. Promising applications for electrophoretic ink in the future may range from street signs to electronic books (Comiskey et al., Vol. 394, pp 253-255; "News and Views" commentary by R. Wisnieff on pp 225-227).
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Citation
Heinhorst, Sabine; Cannon, Gordon. J. Chem. Educ.1999 76 457.
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