Taiwan Introduces Rewritable Electronic Paper

 

The paper was developed by Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

 

At a recent demonstration, technicians showed off the paper's printing ability using a thermal printer, the same kind used in fax machines.  

 

And with the flip of a switch, the paper can be erased - and is ready for reuse.

              

While there have been other forms of e-paper developed, researchers say this is the first of its kind to use a thermal printer.

 

[John Chen, Vice President, General Director, ITRI]:                   

"I think the greatest breakthrough was that traditional display devices usually require electricity to write, our technology made it closer to how we would use normal paper - first it does not require patterned electrodes, it is very light, soft, and rewritable. From this perspective, this is a true e-paper."

 

The paper thickness is less than 5 thousandths of an inch.

       

It's made by putting a layer of Cholestric Liquid Crystal, a type of liquid crystal structured similarly to cholesterol molecules, on a plastic film.

              

Chen says the advantage of using Cholestric Liquid Crystal is that it does not require a backlight, and by adding optical agents of different pitches, it can  produce blue, red and green colors - ideal for use in signs or posters.

              

The new paper is more than just tree friendly - Chen says that in the long run, "i2R e-Paper" will save energy too.

 

[John Chen, Vice President, General Director, ITRI]:       

"So far, it can be rewritten and cleared 260 times. In many cases, such as transportation tickets or ID badges, it will save you from printing the same thing 269 times. In terms of environmental protection, this is very meaningful."

              

Chen says the e-paper's print-out resolution can reach 300 dots per inch (dpi), and its application may extend to scrolls of unlimited length, digital billboard, or ambient wallpapers.

              

An A4-sized piece of "i2R e-Paper" costs approximately $2.00 U.S.  

 

The technology has already been transferred to a local company for mass production, and could be on the market in about two years time.