Abstract: A three-dimensional molecular assembly and method of formation are provided. The molecular assembly is formed on a substrate. The molecular assembly comprises: a first monolayer of seed molecules for initiating self-assembled molecular growth, the first monolayer formed on the substrate; a second monolayer of active molecules comprising a plurality of rotor and stator moieties, with one rotor moiety supported between two stator moieties, the second monolayer of active molecules formed on the first monolayer of seed molecules, with a one-to-one correspondence between molecules in the first monolayer and the second monolayer; a third monolayer of spacer molecules, formed on the second monolayer of active molecules, with a one-to-one correspondence between molecules in the second monolayer and the third monolayer; and a plurality of alternating second monolayers and third monolayers having the one-to-one correspondence.

Abstract: Molecular systems are provided for electric field activated switches, such as a crossed-wire device or a pair of electrodes to which the molecular system is linked by linking moieties. The crossed-wire device comprises a pair of crossed wires that form a junction where one wire crosses another at an angle other than zero degrees and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises the molecular system, which has an electric field induced band gap change, and thus a change in its electrical conductivity, that occurs via one of the following mechanisms: (1) molecular conformation change; (2) change of extended conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap; or (3) molecular folding or stretching. Nanometer-scale reversible electronic switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make cross-bar circuits, which provide memory, logic, and communication functions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to latex particulates having a greater concentration of acid at their surfaces than at their cores. A method of making such particulates can comprise copolymerizing an acidic monomer with a non-acidic monomer so as to yield a copolymer chain having more acidic monomer at one end than at the other.

Abstract: A colorant molecule is provided that includes at least one switch unit. The switch unit comprises ring-based tautomers, of which there may be more than one per chromophore, and may include donor and/or acceptor moieties.

Abstract: Ceramic pigment-based, chemically-modified porous coatings can be used for enhancing image permanence of ink-jet image printing. Specifically, a porous coated media sheet, comprising a media substrate, having a porous coating coated thereon comprising a modified ceramic pigment including a fixer group and a stabilizer group, each covalently attached to the ceramic pigment is disclosed. Additionally, a method and system for preparing permanent ink-jet images is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to pigment suspensions, methods of forming pigment suspensions, and ink sets. The pigment suspension can comprise an aqueous liquid vehicle and a polymer-encapsulated pigment suspended in the liquid vehicle. The polymer-encapsulated pigment can include a pigment core, a bridging layer deposited on a surface of the pigment core, and a polymer encapsulation layer attached to or deposited on the bridging layer.

Abstract: A charge storage cell is made up of two electrodes spaced apart by a dielectric layer incorporating a molecular switch. A method of operating a bi-stable, molecular switch charge storage cell encompassing two electrodes spaced apart by a dielectric layer incorporating a molecular switch having an electric dipole is also disclosed. The method involves applying a voltage across said dielectric layer to induce opposing charges on said electrodes that create an electric field across said dielectric layer, wherein molecular dipoles within said dielectric layer align or change in response to said electric field, creating an opposing electric field and a change in state of said molecular switch from a first state to a second state; and applying a voltage of reverse polarity across said dielectric aver to change said state of said molecular switch from said second state to said first state.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to polymer-encapsulated pigments and methods of making the same. The method includes providing an emulsion including water and a discontinuous coating phase having a copolymer dissolved in a monomer mix; providing a pigment dispersion including water, surfactant, and pigments dispersed therein; mixing the emulsion with the pigment dispersion under high shear conditions such that the coating phase is deposited on the pigments, thereby forming polymer and monomer coated pigments; and polymerizing the monomers at the surface of the polymer and monomer coated pigments to form polymer-encapsulated pigments dispersed in a fluid medium.

Abstract: A colorant molecule is provided that includes at least one switch unit. The switch unit comprises ring-based tautomers, of which there may be more than one per chromophore, and may include donor and/or acceptor moieties.

Abstract: The present is drawn to the use of blocked acid monomers for the incorporation of highly acidic groups, such as strong acids and multiple acids, on the surface of latex particles via emulsion polymerization. In accordance with this, a method of forming latex particulates having high charge density surfaces can comprise the steps of preparing a monomer emulsion including an aqueous phase and an organic monomer phase, wherein the organic monomer phase includes at least one blocked acid monomer; polymerizing the organic monomer phase to form blocked acid latex particulates dispersed in the aqueous phase; and unblocking the blocked acid latex particulates to form acidified latex particulates.

Abstract: An electronically addressable display comprises a substrate, at least one polarization-type, electrical field switchable molecular colorant associated with the substrate, and an addressing device mounted for selectively switching the at least one molecular colorant between at least two visually distinguishable states. Electronic devices including the electronically addressable displays and methods of manufacturing the electronically addressable display are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to polymer-encapsulated pigments and methods of making the same. The method includes providing an emulsion including water and a discontinuous coating phase having a copolymer dissolved in a monomer mix; providing a pigment dispersion including water, surfactant, and pigments dispersed therein; mixing the emulsion with the pigment dispersion under high shear conditions such that the coating phase is deposited on the pigments, thereby forming polymer and monomer coated pigments; and polymerizing the monomers at the surface of the polymer and monomer coated pigments to form polymer-encapsulated pigments dispersed in a fluid medium.

Abstract: A charge storage cell comprises two electrodes spaced apart by a dielectric layer incorporating a molecular switch.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for document content publishing, distribution, and display, including a method of doing business. An electronic display includes at least one reusable imaging stratum forming a pixel array of a bi-modal molecular colorant. Preferably, the molecules have bistable orientations. The imaging stratum having a viewing surface and a back surface. Adjacent said back surface is a background stratum. An addressing device is mounted for selectively switching colorant molecules of the imaging stratum between a transparent orientation and a color-exhibiting orientation. The present invention is adaptable to reflective light, back lit, and projection implementations.

Abstract: A molecular light valve controlled color display. The display is formed through a layer of such molecules between a crossbar array of transparent electrodes, the crossbar intersections forming addressable pixels. A rapid sequencing of primary colors is controlled by molecular light valves congruent with display pixels. Native display resolution for a full gamut of colors is maintained for each pixel via a temporally distributed color pixel scheme. Both still and motion images can be displayed. Molecular valves, or switches, transition between two optically distinct states, e.g., transparent and black.

Abstract: An electronic writing instrument for rewritable electronic writing surfaces. A self-powered, untethered, pencil-like instrument uses a perpendicular fringe field for changing the orientation of pixels composed of bistable, bichromal colorant elements. An appendix hereto describes bistable, bichromal, molecular colorant.

Abstract: Ceramic pigment-based, chemically-modified porous coatings can be used for enhancing image permanence of ink-jet image printing. Specifically, a porous coated media sheet, comprising a media substrate, having a porous coating coated thereon comprising a modified ceramic pigment including a fixer group and a stabilizer group, each covalently attached to the ceramic pigment is disclosed. Additionally, a method and system for preparing permanent ink-jet images is also provided.

Abstract: Ceramic pigment-based, chemically-modified porous coatings can be used for enhancing image permanence of ink-jet image printing. Specifically, a porous coated media sheet, comprising a media substrate, having a porous coating coated thereon comprising a modified ceramic pigment including a fixer group and a stabilizer group, each covalently attached to the ceramic pigment is disclosed. Additionally, a method and system for preparing permanent ink-jet images is also provided.

Abstract: An electric field activated bi-stable molecular system configured within an electric field generated by a pair of electrodes is provided for use, e.g., as electronic ink or other visual displays. The molecular system has at least one rotor portion connected to at least one stator portion, wherein the rotor portion rotates with respect to the stator portion between at least two different states upon application of the electric field, thereby inducing a band gap change in the molecular system, wherein in a first state, there is extended conjugation throughout the major portion of the molecular system, resulting in a relatively smaller band gap, and wherein in a second state, the extended conjugation is destroyed, resulting in a relatively larger band gap. A primary advantage of the molecular system is improved contrast. Because the colorant of the present invention is molecular and thus effectively monoplanar, there should be no backside reflection or scattering from the colorant.

Abstract: An electronic book, having a single screen, employs an electric field addressable, rewritable, colorant, preferably a bistable molecular colorant, for providing printed pages sequentially to a reader. The electronic book includes the rewritable screen coupled to an extraction-retraction device, an electrode array printer, a sheet position detector, and associated circuitry to download, store, sequence, and print images on the screen. Methods associated with document distribution are another aspect of the invention.