Colored polymer-reinforced metal-organic framework microparticles with high charge-to-mass ratio for electrophoretic display

Abstract Besides high porosity and controllable structure, metal-organic framework (MOF) has some natural advantages for color electrophoretic particles: easy modification, controllable morphology, low and adjustable density, and high charge density, as well as rich, vivid, and stable colors. Therefore, we first integrated the four colored MOF microparticles and polyelectrolytes into the blue, reddish-brown, green, and purple electrophoretic particles to construct the two-color stable dispersions in nonpolar isododecane as the electrophoretic inks. Here, the surface modification of polyethyleneimine (PEI) chains based on non-covalent interaction rendered these MOF microparticles fully reinforced to ~+30 mV in Zeta potential and over 3.6 × 10 −10 m 2 V −1 s −1 in the electrophoretic mobility. Under the ultralow field strength of 0.02 V μm −1 , all the response time and recovery time were no more than 2.3 and 5.9 s, respectively. Even after long-time or multiple driving, these MOF microparticles and their reflectance value still remained constant to some extent. By comparison, these colored PEI-reinforced MOF microparticles are superior to the other organic color pigments and inorganic particles, in response capability, charge-to-mass ratio, preparation method, production cost, and stability in color, particle, and display. It is anticipated to provide an innovative and promising technical path for color electrophoresis display.