Patent ID: 7947772

Claim:
A method of forming a nano-component comprising at least one colorant, the method comprising: forming a composite stream by contacting a portion of a first liquid stream with a portion of a second liquid stream, wherein said first and second liquid streams are compositionally distinct from one another and at least one of said first and second liquid streams comprises a colorant; and exposing at least a portion of the composite stream to an electric force field sufficient to form a solid nano-component comprising a first phase and a second distinct phase, wherein said first phase comprises material from said first liquid stream and said second phase comprises material from said second liquid stream, such that said first phase and said second phase are compositionally distinct from one another, wherein said first phase comprises a first colorant and said second phase comprises a second colorant distinct from said first colorant and at least one of said first phase and said second phase comprises a polymer or polymer precursor, thus forming a nano-component having optically distinct phases.