Metastable Nanoparticle Ink Compositions and Images Made Therefrom

摘要

Self-erasing inks in which both the printing and self-erasure of color images can be controlled by the dynamic/non-equilibrium aggregation of photoresponsive surface-coated nanoparticles contained in a carrier film are provided. The aggregation is a reversible aggregation that is triggered by a photo-induced transformation in ligands within the surface coating on the nanoparticles. Methods for forming images using the inks are also provided.