Converting device including variable electroconductivity material, and recording and detecting method using the same

A converting device comprising:

• a non-memorizable converting layer comprising a variable electroconductivity material exhibiting electronic charge conduction, said variable electroconductivity material comprising:
• (a) an electroconductivity variation imparting agent which changes its ionic structure when exposed to one of light and heat energy, between nonionic and ionic structures, said electroconductivity variation imparting agent comprising at least one dye selected from the group consisting of diarylmethane, triarylmethane, thiazole, methine, xanthene, oxazine, thiazine, azine, acridine, azo, and metal complex dyes;
• (b) a charge transport substance, the electroconductivity of which varies in relation to the ionic structural change of said electroconductivity variation imparting agent, said charge transport substance comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of an organic or inorganic charge transport material, a .pi.-electron conjugated polymer, and a charge-transfer complex compound;
• and
• a pair of electrodes formed on opposite major surfaces of said converting layer.

A method of using a recording material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a recording medium having a memorizable converting layer disposed on an electrode material, said converting layer comprising a variable electroconductivity material exhibiting electronic charge conduction, said variable electroconductivity material comprising:
• (a) an electroconductivity variation imparting agent which changes its ionic structure when exposed to one of light and heat energy, between nonionic and ionic structures, said electroconductivity variation imparting agent comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of spiropyrane compounds, diazonium compounds, derivatives thereof, a mixture of a leuco dye and a halide compound, and an ionic dye;
• and
• (b) a charge transport substance, the electroconductivity of which varies in relation to the ionic structural change of said electroconductivity variation imparting agent, said charge transport substance comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of an organic or inorganic charge transport material, a .pi.-electron conjugated polymer, and a charge-transfer complex compound;
• applying one of light and heat energy, corresponding to information to be recorded in said converting layer, to said converting layer to record information in said converting layer;
• and
• detecting the information thus recorded in said converting layer.

A method of using a recording material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a recording medium having a memorizable converting layer disposed on an electrode material, said converting layer comprising a variable electroconductivity material exhibiting electronic charge conduction, said variable electroconductivity material comprising:
• (a) an electroconductivity variation imparting agent which changes its ionic structure when exposed to one of light and heat energy, between nonionic and ionic structures, said electroconductivity variation imparting agent comprising at least one dye selected from the group consisting of diarylmethane, triarylmethane, thiazole, methine, xanthene, oxazine, thiazine, azine, acridine, azo, and metal complex dyes;
• and
• (b) a charge transport substance, the electroconductivity of which varies in relation to the ionic structural change of said electroconductivity variation imparting agent, said charge transport substance comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of an organic or inorganic charge transport material, a .pi.-electron conjugated polymer, and a charge-transfer complex compound;
• applying one of light and heat energy, corresponding to information to be recorded in said converting layer, to said converting layer to record information in said converting layer;
• and
• detecting the information thus recorded in said converting layer.

A method of detecting electroconductivity variation in a converting device, comprising the steps of:

• providing a converting device comprising a non-memorizable converting layer sandwiched between two electrodes, said converting layer comprising a variable electroconductivity material exhibiting electronic charge conduction, said variable electroconductivity material comprising:
• (a) an electroconductivity variation imparting agent which changes its ionic structure when exposed to one of light and heat energy, between nonionic and ionic structures, said electroconductivity variation imparting agent comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of spiropyrane compounds, diazonium compounds, derivatives thereof, a mixture of a leuco dye and a halide compound, and an ionic dye;
• and
• (b) a charge transport substance, the electroconductivity of which varies in relation to the ionic structural change of said electroconductivity variation imparting agent, said charge transport substance comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of an organic or inorganic charge transport material, a .pi.-electron conjugated polymer, and a charge-transfer complex compound;
• applying one of light and heat energy to said converting device to change the ionic structure of said electroconductivity variation imparting agent and thus cause electroconductivity variation in said converting layer;
• and
• detecting said electroconductivity variation in said converting layer.

A method of detecting electroconductivity variation in a converting device, comprising the steps of:

• providing a converting device comprising a non-memorizable converting layer sandwiched between two electrodes, said converting layer comprising a variable electroconductivity material exhibiting electronic charge conduction, said variable electroconductivity material comprising:
• (a) an electroconductivity variation imparting agent which changes its ionic structure when exposed to one of light and heat energy, between nonionic and ionic structures, said electroconductivity variation imparting agent comprising at least one dye selected from the group consisting of diarylmethane, triarylmethane, thiazole, methine, xanthene, oxazine, thiazine, azine, acridine, azo, and metal complex dyes;
• and
• (b) a charge transport substance, the electroconductivity of which varies in relation to the ionic structural change of said electroconductivity variation imparting agent, said charge transport substance comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of an organic or inorganic charge transport material, a .pi.-electron conjugated polymer, and a charge-transfer complex compound;
• applying one of light and heat energy to said converting device to change the ionic structure of said electroconductivity variation imparting agent and thus cause electroconductivity variation in said converting layer;
• and
• detecting said electroconductivity variation in said converting layers.