The Challenge

Smart colloids, nanoscale particles that respond to electric fields, are one possible alternative approach. To achieve colour in a reflective display, the research team, from HP Labs and the University of Bristol, are investigating pigment suspensions which react to an applied electric field with a change of hue. Investigation of the changes in suspension behaviour under an applied electric field required an in situ measurement on a fast timescale.

The Solution

The non-crystalline diffraction beamline, I22, at Diamond is ideally suited to the investigation of nanoparticle ordering and orientation in suspension. Microstructural information can be accessed on length scales from a few Angstroms up to 250nm on millisecond timescales. A flexible experiment area allows the researchers to provide external stimuli to the sample of interest, in this case an electric field, and simultaneously measure the resulting structural changes.

The Benefits

The microscale ordering and alignment of the nanoparticles in the suspension under applied fields is key to identifying the most suitable materials for novel display technologies. Control of the suspension behaviour has been shown to be vital for optimising performance. These experiments have also allowed the research team to select the most promising candidates for future device development.