Variable data lithography system with embedded plasmonic fillers in a printing plate

A variable data lithography system, comprising:

• an imaging member comprising an arbitrarily reimageable surface having on one face thereof a matrix layer with plasmonic nanoparticles embedded at or below the surface of the matrix layer, wherein said plasmonic nanoparticles generate heat when exposed to an incident wavelength of electromagnetic radiation;
• a dampening solution subsystem for applying a layer of dampening solution to an arbitrarily reimageable surface layer;
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles at said imaging member are in thermal contact with said layer of dampening solution;
• a patterning subsystem for selectively removing portions of the dampening solution layer, by electromagnetic radiation and the heat from the plasmonic nanoparticles, so as to produce a latent image in the dampening solution;
• an inking subsystem for applying ink over the arbitrarily reimageable surface layer such that said ink selectively occupies regions of the reimageable surface layer where dampening solution was removed by the patterning subsystem to thereby produce an inked latent image;
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles have a controlled shape to efficiently absorb light at the same frequency as the electromagnetic radiation;
• wherein the controlled shape has a physical size that is smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation;
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles are encapsulated to provide an insulating barrier and to prevent direct contact between particles;
• and
• an image transfer subsystem for transferring the inked latent image to a substrate.

A method comprising:

• using a plate having on one face thereof a matrix layer with plasmonic nanoparticles embedded at or below the surface of the matrix layer;
• irradiating said plasmonic nanoparticles with electromagnetic radiation to generate heat;
• wherein the electromagnetic radiation and the heat from the plasmonic nanoparticles selectively remove portions of a dampening solution so as to produce a latent image on the arbitrarily reimageable surface layer;
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles have a controlled shape to efficiently absorb light at the same frequency as the electromagnetic radiation;
• wherein the controlled shape has a physical size that is smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation;
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles are encapsulated to provide an insulating barrier and to prevent direct contact between particles.