Polymer-encapsulated nanoparticle systems

A field responsive system, comprising:

• a non-aqueous dielectric medium;
• polymer-encapsulated nanoparticles formed in situ in and dispersed in the non-aqueous dielectric medium, each polymer-encapsulated particle having a diameter that is less than 1 micron and including:
• a solid particle core;
• and
• a polymer coating established directly on the solid particle core, the polymer coating including an ionic species which imparts a reversible charge to each polymer-encapsulated nanoparticle;
• and
• a source of an electric field configured to charge the polymer-encapsulated nanoparticles in a predetermined manner.

A method for forming a system including polymer-encapsulated nanoparticles, the method comprising:

• forming an inverse mini-emulsion including a continuous phase of a non-aqueous medium and a discontinuous phase of at least:
• a plurality of nanoparticles having a polar surface, and at least one of i) a polar, water-soluble, or water-miscible monomer, or ii) a polar, water-soluble, or water-miscible pre-polymer;
• and
• initiating polymerization of the at least one of the monomer or the prepolymer to form a polymer coating on each of the plurality of nanoparticles in the non-aqueous medium.