Processless direct write printing plate having heat sensitive positively-charged polymers and methods of imaging and printing

An imaging member comprising a support having thereon a hydrophilic imaging layer capable of being imaged by IR radiation comprising a hydrophilic heat-sensitive imaging cross-linked vinyl polymer comprising recurring units comprising a positively-charged, pendant N-alkylated aromatic heterocyclic group, wherein the polymer is of Structure I:

• wherein R1 is an alkyl group, R2 is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an alkenyl group, a halogen, a cycloalkyl group, or a heterocyclic group having 5 to 8 atoms in the ring, Z′ represents the carbon and nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur atoms necessary to complete an aromatic N-heterocyclic ring having 5 to 10 atoms in the ring, n is 0 to 6, and W− is an anion, or the polymer is of Structure II:
• wherein HET+ represents a positively-charged, pendant N-alkylated aromatic heterocyclic group which is an imidazolium group, X represents recurring units having attached HET+ groups, Y represents recurring units derived from ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers that provide active crosslinking sites, Z represents recurring units for additionally ethylenically unsaturated monomers, x is from about 50 to 100 mol %, y is from 0 to about 20 mol %, z is from 0 to about 50 mol %, and W− is an anion.