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Electrostatics could 'revolutionise' laser printers

Thursday 16 November, 2006

Scientific research conducted three centuries ago could lead to vast improvements in modern colour laser printers, according to a leading physicist.

Lawrence Schein, a former researcher for both IBM and Xerox, claims that colour laser printers could be made up to 70 per cent smaller and considerably cheaper than current versions.

Speaking to the AVS International Symposium and Exhibition in San Francisco, California, the scientist explained that Benjamin Franklin's groundbreaking work on electrostatics could lead to improvements in printer technology.

The symposium was celebrating the birthday of physicist Franklin and Mr Schein pointed out how electrostatics still remains one of the lesser understood areas of solid state physics three centuries after his birth.

"I have a so-called desktop colour laser printer," he said, "but it's so bulky I had to buy a special desk for it."

Electrostatic adhesion is at the root of photocopier, fax machine and laser printer technology and electrostatic attraction between two bodies is calculated using Gauss's Law, which assumes a large distance between the objects.

Mr Schein and Stanley Czarnecki, of Torrey Pines Research, have been working with Gauss's formula to enhance electrostatic adhesion, using nanotechnology and silica, and have inspired the creation of technology start-up Aetas Systems, which is dedicated to the development of new colour-laser technology.

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