Inks including block copolymer grafted pigments via azide chemistry

In combination, an electronic display and an electronic ink, wherein the electronic display includes:

• a first electrode;
• a second electrode;
• and
• a display cell having a recess defined by a dielectric material, the first electrode, and the second electrode, the display cell containing the electronic ink;
• and wherein the electronic ink includes:
• a non-polar carrier fluid;
• and
• a surface-functionalized pigment particle including a nitrogen-linked moiety to the surface of the pigment particle through a nitrogen link at one end of the nitrogen-linked moiety and a block copolymer having at least two blocks attached at another end, the pigment particle suspended in the non-polar carrier fluid.

A method for making a nitrogen-linked surface functionalized pigment particle including:

• providing an azide;
• causing the azide initiator to initiate polymerization of a first block monomer to give a first block azide living polymer;
• adding a second monomer to the first block living polymer to give a two-block azide living polymer;
• causing an inorganic or organic pigment to undergo a coupling reaction with the azide on the two-block living polymer to form a functionalized di-block copolymer grafted pigment through a nitrogen link.