Iodine-incorporated polystyrene for laser marking

Abstract

An iodine-incorporated polymeric film, based on a solid-state charge-transfer complex between polystyrene and iodine, is described. The material prepared, originally red, can be marked (changing to transparent) by an Ar+ laser beam. Possible photochemical and photothermal mechanisms for such transformation are proposed. The laser print can be erased by exposing the film to I2 vapor. Besides its use as a laser-beam diagnostic material, possible future applications include optical storage devices.