Image forming method and image forming apparatus including electroconductive polymer layer for dye intake and release

Abstract

An image forming method and an image forming apparatus, wherein a thin film of an electroconductive polymer which holds and releases a dye by means of an electric field enables a construction including a driving circuit, a driving device and an image forming medium to be used for the transfer of an image pattern. The image forming method includes forming a thin film of the electroconductive polymer on an electroconductive substrate, which can take in, hold and release ionic dye molecules in accordance with the change of the state of the electroconductive polymer, that can assume at least two physicochemical states among an oxidized state, a neutral state and a reduced state of the thin film; and bringing the thin film into contact with an image receiving medium. The image receiving medium has suppressed electroconductivity. When a voltage is applied to the thin film holding ionic dye molecules and the image receiving medium between the electroconductive substrate and an image formation controlling electrode, ionic dye molecules are transferred to a localized area, but not to the entire surface, of the image receiving medium.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.