Abstract: Compositions, systems, and methods for protecting an ink-jet produced image printed on a substrate are provided. The composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.10 g/cm3. An alternative composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a reactive surfactant covalently attached thereto.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a latex-encapsulated particulate, comprising a particulate from 30 nm to 150 nm in size, and a latex at least partially encapsulating the particulate. The latex can have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and the latex-encapsulated particulate can have a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 2.0 g/cm3.

Abstract: Latex particles having a reacttive surfactant covalently bonded to the latex particle surface are provided. The latex particles exhibit shear stability and accurate drop placement on printed media when used in ink jet inks and in high speed ink jet printers. A latex particle is also provided having a reactive surfactant covalently bonded to the surface of the latex particle, where the latex particle has a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.10 g/cm3 and a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0. An ink-jet ink is provided that can comprise effective amounts of an ink vehicle, a colorant admixed in the ink vehicle, latex particles dispersed in the ink vehicle, and a reactive surfactant covalently bonded to the surface of the latex particles.

Abstract: Classes of molecules are disclosed which can, for example, be used in molecular switches. The classes of molecules include at least three segments—an electronic donor (“D”), a switchable bridge (“B”), and an electronic acceptor (“A”)—chemically connected and linearly arranged (e.g., D-B-A). The electronic donor can be an aromatic ring system with at least one electron donating group covalently attached; an aromatic ring system with an electron withdrawing group covalently attached is usually employed as the electronic acceptor; and the switchable bridge can be a pi system that can be switched on or off using an external electric field.

Abstract: The invention described herein includes a molecular switch, comprising: a donor subunit; an acceptor subunit; and an aromatic bridging subunit comprising one or more bridging groups for bonding the donor subunit to the aromatic bridging subunit and for bonding the acceptor subunit to the aromatic bridging subunit wherein the aromatic bridging subunit is conformable in a manner effective for polarizing and de-polarizing the molecular switch at a low electric field voltage.

Abstract: A molecular system is 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 a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between to stationary portions (stators). 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 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: A digital dye having an optical change resulting from an electrochemical oxidation/reduction reaction is provided for use in a molecular system. The molecular system provides two different colors based on two different oxidation states of at least one digital dye in the molecular system. Further, an optical switch comprising the molecular system configured within an electric field generated by a pair of electrodes is provided, employing the above-described digital dye. Still further, a display device including a transparent display electrode, a counter electrode, and the molecular system disposed therebetween is provided, where the molecular system comprises at least one digital dye.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for a rewritable disk memory using an electro-optical molecular recording layer. In the manner of nanotechnology, each molecule is an individual multi-position switch having at least two distinct optical characteristic states. Localized electrical field injection is used to switch each molecule to one of at least two bistable position states such that each is representative of a storable data bit.

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: A method for stabilizing a dye in an ink comprising the dye and a vehicle is provided. The ink is intended for printing on a print medium, which may comprise a variety of surfaces. The method comprises: (a) providing at least one dye moiety (molecule or monomer); (b) encapsulating the dye moiety in a transparent polymeric matrix to form an encapsulated dye particle that provides a barrier to protect the dye moiety; and (c) incorporating the encapsulated dye particle in the ink. The dye moiety is substantially water-insoluble. Consequently, the method of the present invention enables the use of hydrophobic colorants in a hydrophilic vehicle. A hydrophobic film thus forms on the print medium upon drying.

Abstract: Compositions, systems, and methods for protecting an ink-jet produced image printed on a substrate are provided. The composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and a bulk density from 0.1 g/cm3 less to 0.1 g/cm3 greater than the vehicle density. An alternative composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a reactive surfactant covalently attached thereto.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a latex-encapsulated particulate, comprising a particulate from 30 nm to 150 nm in size, and a latex at least partially encapsulating the particulate. The latex can have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and the latex-encapsulated particulate can have a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 2.0 g/cm3.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn toward latex particulates in ink-jet inks having a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0.

Abstract: Latex particles having a reactive surfactant covalently bonded to the latex particle surface are provided. The latex particles exhibit shear stability and accurate drop placement on printed media when used in ink jet inks and in high speed ink jet printers. A latex particle is also provided having a reactive surfactant covalently bonded to the surface of the latex particle, where the latex particle has a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.10 g/cm3 and a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0. An ink-jet ink is provided that can comprise effective amounts of an ink vehicle, a colorant admixed in the ink vehicle, latex particles dispersed in the ink vehicle, and a reactive surfactant covalently bonded to the surface of the latex particles.

Abstract: A composition and method of associating stabilizer functionalities with latex particulates is provided. The composition can comprise a latex particulate configured for inclusion in an ink-jet ink to provide improved humidfastness of an image printed by the ink-jet ink, wherein the latex particulate has a molecular weight from 10,000 Mw to 10,000,000 Mw, and has a particle size from 10 nm to 2 &mgr;m; and an image stabilizer configured for improving durability of the image, wherein the image stabilizer is bound to or otherwise associated with the latex particulate. The method can comprise the steps of coupling a polymerizable monomer with a stabilizing agent reactive with the polymerizable monomer, thereby forming a stabilizer precursor-containing monomer; polymerizing the stabilizer-containing monomer to form a latex particulate; and decoupling the stabilizing agent from the latex particulate.

Abstract: A molecular system is 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 a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between to stationary portions (stators). 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: Systems and methods for providing smudge resistant and durable ink-jet images having good optical density are provided. Specifically, a system for printing durable ink-jet ink images can comprise a set of two ink-jet pens, preferably thermal ink-jet pens. The first ink-jet pen contains an ink-jet ink, wherein the ink-jet ink comprises a first liquid vehicle, from 0.5% to 6% by weight of a pigment colorant, and from 0.2% to 15% by weight of an anionic or neutral latex-containing colloidal suspension. The second ink-jet pen contains a fixer composition, wherein the fixer composition comprises effective amounts of second liquid vehicle, and from 0.2% to 15% by weight of a cationic polymer such as poly(vinyl pyridine) salts, polyalkylaminoethyl acrylates, polyalkylaminoethyl methacrylates, poly(vinyl imidazole); or preferably, polyethyleneimines, polybiguanides, and/or polyguanides.

Abstract: A molecular system is 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 a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between to stationary portions (stators). 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: A method for stabilizing a dye in an ink comprising the dye and a vehicle is provided. The ink is intended for printing on a print medium, which may comprise a variety of surfaces. The method comprises: (a) providing at least one dye moiety (molecule or monomer); (b) encapsulating the dye moiety in a transparent polymeric matrix to form an encapsulated dye particle that provides a barrier to protect the dye moiety; and (c) incorporating the encapsulated dye particle in the ink. The dye moiety is substantially water-insoluble. Consequently, the method of the present invention enables the use of hydrophobic colorants in a hydrophilic vehicle. A hydrophobic film thus forms on the print medium upon drying.