Abstract: A sulfonated dye salt is disclosed. The sulfonated dye salt has a phosphazene cation of formula (C): wherein: R15, R16 and R17 are each independently selected from the group consisting of: C6-12 aryl, C5-12 heteroaryl; N(R20)(R21) and —N?P[N(R22)2]3; R18 and R19 are each independently selected from the group consisting of: H and C1-8 alkyl; or R18 and R19 are together: ?P(Ph)3; R20 and R21 are each independently selected from the group consisting of: H and C1-8 alkyl; or R20 and R21 are together joined to form a nitrogen-containing C5-10 heterocycloalkyl group; and R22 is C1-6 alkyl.

Abstract: A method of initiating a requested action in a computer system via a printed substrate. The substrate has human-readable information and machine-readable coded data printed thereon. The coded data is indicative of a substrate identity and of a plurality of locations on the substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) interacting with the substrate using an optically imaging sensing device; (b) imaging the coded data; (c) generating indicating data in the sensing device using the imaged coded data, the indicating data identifying the substrate identity and a position of the sensing device relative to the substrate; and communicating the indicating data to the computer system so that the computer system can initiate the requested action. The coded data is printed with an ink comprising an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye.

Abstract: A salt of a sulfonated dye modulates a stability of the dye, particularly its ozonefastness. The salt comprises an organic cation selected from the group consisting of: a first organic cation having a positive charge delocalized between a nitrogen atom and at least one other heteroatom; a second organic cation having a positive charge delocalized between a nitrogen atom and at least two other atoms; and a third organic cation of formula (A): wherein: Rp, Rq and Rr are each independently selected from a C1-6 alkyl group; s is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and Ar is a C6-12 aryl group or C3-12 heteroaryl group.

Abstract: A method of formulating an aqueous ink having minimal visible coloration. The method includes the steps of: providing an aqueous ink formulation containing a sulfonated water-soluble IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye having a central metal atom moiety; and adjusting a pH of the formulation to a pH value in the range of 4 to 6.5 so as to minimize visible coloration of the formulation.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer contains an aqueous ink formulation. The ink formulation comprising an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (II): or a salt form thereof, wherein: M is Ga(A1); A1 is an axial ligand selected from —OH, halogen, —OR3, —OC(O)R4 or —O(CH2CH2O)eRe wherein e is an integer from 2 to 10 and Re is H, C1-8 alkyl or C(O)C1-8 alkyl; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or C1-12 alkoxy; R3 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl or Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); R4 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl or C5-12 arylalkyl; and Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12 aryloxy or C5-12 arylalkoxy. The ink formulation has a characteristic pH in the range of 4 to 6.5.

Abstract: A method of modulating a stability of a sulfonated dye, particularly its ozonefastness is provided. The method comprises providing a salt of the dye, wherein the salt comprises at least one organic cation selected from the group consisting of: a first organic cation having a positive charge delocalized between a nitrogen atom and at least one other heteroatom; a second organic cation having a positive charge delocalized between a nitrogen atom and at least two other atoms; and a third organic cation of formula (A): wherein: Rp, Rq and Rr are each independently selected from a C1-6 alkyl group; s is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and Ar is a C6-12 aryl group or C3-12 heteroaryl group.

Abstract: A method of formulating an aqueous ink having minimal visible coloration. The method includes the steps of: providing an aqueous ink formulation containing a sulfonated water-soluble IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye having a central metal atom moiety; and adjusting a pH of the formulation to a pH value in the range of 4 to 6.5 so as to minimize visible coloration of the formulation.

Abstract: A printing module for an analog printer. The printing module includes an ink supply, a printing plate and an ink applicator for disposing ink from the ink supply onto the plate. The ink contains an IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye formulated in a solvent-based or oil-based ink vehicle. The phthalocyanine dye has sulfonate groups, wherein a counterion of each sulfonate group is a phosphonium cation. Each phosphonium cation is of formula: P+(Rm)(Rn)(Rs)(Rt); each of Rm, Rn, Rs and Rt is independently selected from the group consisting of: C1-30 alkyl, C5-12 aryl and C5-30 arylalkyl; and at least one of Rm, Rn, Rs and Rt includes more than 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: An inkjet ink comprising an IR-absorbing dye of formula (A): wherein M is selected from the group consisting of: Si(A1)(A2), Ge(A1)(A2), Ga(A1), Mg, Al(A1), TiO, Ti(A1)(A2), ZrO, Zr(A1)(A2), VO, V(A1)(A2), Mn, Mn(A1), Fe, Fe(A1), Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, Sn(A1)(A2), Pb, Pb(A1)(A2), Pd and Pt; A1 and A2 are axial ligands, which may be the same or different, and are selected from the group consisting of: —OH, halogen and —OR3; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, hydroxyl, C1-12 alkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, amino, C1-12 alkylamino, di(C1-12 alkyl)amino, halogen, cyano, thiol, C1-12 alkylthio, nitro, carboxy, C1-12 alkylcarbonyl, C1-12 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-12 alkylcarbonyloxy and C1-12 alkylcarbonylamino; R3 is a selected from the group consisting of: C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl and Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12 aryloxy or C5-12 arylalkoxy;

Abstract: An aqueous formulation comprises a sulfonated water-soluble IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye having a central metal atom moiety. A pH of the formulation is in the range of 4 to 6.5, which minimizes visibility of the formulation.

Abstract: An inkjet ink for use in netpage, Hyperlabel and other applications. The ink includes an IR-absorbing dye of formula (I): wherein M is Ga(A1); A1 is an axial ligand selected from —OH, halogen, —OR3, —OC(O)R4, a hydrophilic ligand and/or a ligand suitable for reducing cofacial interactions; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or C1-12 alkoxy; R3 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl or Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); R4 is selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl or C5-12 arylalkyl; Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12 aryloxy or C5-12 arylalkoxy; W is a hydrophilic group, each W group being independently selected from a substituent including a sulfonic acid group (including salts thereof), or a substituent comprising a sulfonamide group; n1 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n2 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n3 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0.

Abstract: A substrate having an inkjet ink disposed thereon. The ink comprises an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I): wherein: M is a metal group; R1 and R2 are selected from the group consisting of: H and C1-12 alkoxy; W is selected from the group consisting of: a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof; and a sulfonamide group; n1 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n2 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n3 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0. n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0.

Abstract: A substrate having an IR-absorbing dye disposed thereon. The IR-absorbing dye is a metal phthalocyanine dye having branched axial ligands. The branched axial ligands minimize interaction between ? systems of adjacent dye molecules, and assist in reducing absorption of visible wavelengths.

Abstract: A method of enabling entry of data into a computer system via a printed substrate. The substrate has a surface containing human-readable information and machine-readable coded data. The coded data is indicative of an identity of the substrate and of a plurality of reference points on the surface. The method includes the steps of: operatively positioning a sensing device relative to the surface and sensing the coded data; generating indicating data using the sensed coded data; and sending the indicating data to a computer system. The coded data comprises an IR-absorbing dye having a nitrogen-substituted phthalocyanine.

Abstract: An aqueous formulation containing an IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye. A pH of the formulation is in the range of 3.5 to 7.

Abstract: A printing module for an analog printer. The printing module includes an ink supply, a printing plate and an ink applicator for disposing ink from the ink supply onto the plate. The ink contains an IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye formulated in a solvent-based or oil-based ink vehicle. The phthalocyanine dye has sulfonate groups, wherein a counterion of each sulfonate group is a phosphonium cation. Each phosphonium cation is of formula: P+(Rm)(Rn)(Rs)(Rt); each of Rm, Rn, Rs and Rt is independently selected from the group consisting of: C1-30 alkyl, C5-12 aryl and C5-30 arylalkyl; and at least one of Rm, Rn, Rs and Rt includes more than 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: An IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I): wherein M is Ga(A1); A1 is selected from the group consisting of: OH and halogen; and W is a sulfonic acid group or salts thereof.

Abstract: An aqueous formulation comprises a sulfonated water-soluble IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye having a central metal atom moiety. A pH of the formulation is in the range of 4 to 6.5, which minimizes visibility of the formulation.

Abstract: A substrate having an inkjet ink disposed thereon. The ink comprises an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I): wherein: M is a metal group; R1 and R2 are selected from the group consisting of: H and C1-12 alkoxy; W is selected from the group consisting of: a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof; and a sulfonamide group; n1 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n2 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n3 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0. n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0.

Abstract: A system for interacting with a coded substrate. The system comprises a substrate having human-readable information and machine-readable coded data disposed thereon and a sensing device for reading the machine-readable coded data. The coded data comprises an IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye having sulfonate groups. A counterion of each sulfonate group is a phosphonium cation.