Display element

1. A display element comprising:

a) a conductive layer;

b) a dielectric layer provided over the conductive layer;

c) a porous material layer provided over the dielectric layer and spaced from the conductive layer, the porous material layer including a plurality of conductive particles covered with a lyophobic and electrically insulating covering;

d) a discrete drop of a conductive liquid provided over the porous material layer, but substantially not in the porous layer;

e) an electrode provided over the porous material layer such that the electrode is in contact with and contains the drop of conductive liquid; and

f) wherein the conductive liquid reversibly moves into the porous material layer upon application of a voltage between the conductive layer and the electrode, and wherein the conductive liquid moves back out of the porous material layer upon removal of the voltage, the movement of the liquid effecting an optical change when viewed from above the porous material layer.

2. The display element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductive particles are metallic.

3. The display element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drop of liquid is encapsulated by a flexible membrane.

4. The display element as claimed in claim 3 wherein the membrane is transparent.

5. The display element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the porous layer has a pore size greater than 30 nm and less than 2 μm.

6. The display element as claimed in claim 1 including means for connecting each element to a circuit to create a matrix display.

7. The display element of claim 3 wherein the membrane takes a convex shape when no voltage is applied and a concave shape when a voltage is applied.

8. The display element of claim 1 wherein the conductive liquid contains a dye or a pigment to provide a colored liquid.

9. The display element of claim 1 wherein the conductive liquid is an ionic liquid.

10. A display device comprising a matrix array of the display elements of claim 1 .