Disclosed is a method for surface treatment of an object, the method including the following steps: applying a surface layer on the object by electrodeposition of the object in a liquid bath; and forming the surface layer as a result of the bath containing at least an electrodeposition coating material and a conductive material. Furthermore, the method includes: providing the conductive material in the form of a carbon-based compound which is configured as a protective barrier covering generally the entire surface of the object. Also disclosed is an object including a surface layer which is applied in accordance with the above-mentioned method.

Improved formulations of electrophoretic media that can be incorporated into displays, front plane laminates, inverted front plane laminates, or color changing films. The formulations include a non-polar fluid, a plurality of first charged particles, and charge control agents (CCA) including a quaternary amine and an unsaturated polymeric tail comprising monomers of at least 10 carbon atoms in length. The formulations show improved switching speeds, as well as a larger dynamic range at low temperatures (i.e., below about 0 C.), where compared to state-of-the-art electrophoretic media.