The present invention provides an ink jet recording ink including a dye which has a weight average molecular weight of 850 or less and is represented by Formula (1) below, a water-soluble organic solvent which has an SP value of 9.4 or more and less than 9.75 and is represented by Formula (2) or (3) below, and water, in which the content of a surfactant is less than 0.1% by mass. R.sub.1, R.sub.2: H, a halogen atom, OH, COOH, C1-C6 alkyl group, C1-C6 alkoxy group, NO.sub.2, an azophenyl group, -L1-Ra and the like, L.sub.1: O, CH.sub.2, C.sub.6H.sub.4, N═N, SO.sub.2 or a combination thereof, Ra: a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, or the like, R.sub.3: H, an azophenyl group, an azonaphthalene group, -L.sub.2-Rb or the like, L.sub.2: C(═O), C.sub.6H.sub.4, N═N, NH, SO.sub.2 or a combination thereof, Rb: a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a pyrimidyl group, or the like; M.sup.+: H.sup.+, Na.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, an alkylammonium ion or the like, R: C2-C6 unsubstituted alkyl group, and n is 1 to 3. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides an ink jet recording ink including a dye which has a weight average molecular weight of 850 or less and is represented by Formula (1) below, a water-soluble organic solvent which has an SP value of 9.4 or more and less than 9.75 and is represented by Formula (2) or (3) below, and water, in which the content of a surfactant is less than 0.1% by mass. R.sub.1, R.sub.2: H, a halogen atom, OH, COOH, C1-C6 alkyl group, C1-C6 alkoxy group, NO.sub.2, an azophenyl group, -L1-Ra and the like, L.sub.1: O, CH.sub.2, C.sub.6H.sub.4, N═N, SO.sub.2 or a combination thereof, Ra: a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, or the like, R.sub.3: H, an azophenyl group, an azonaphthalene group, -L.sub.2-Rb or the like, L.sub.2: C(═O), C.sub.6H.sub.4, N═N, NH, SO.sub.2 or a combination thereof, Rb: a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a pyrimidyl group, or the like; M.sup.+: H.sup.+, Na.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, an alkylammonium ion or the like, R: C2-C6 unsubstituted alkyl group, and n is 1 to 3. ##STR00001##

Electrowetting element including a compound comprising a plurality of colorant moieties and a linker. The plurality of colorant moieties includes a first colorant moiety having a first net dipole and a second colorant moiety having a second net dipole. The plurality of colorant moieties are linked by and disposed around the linker so that the first net dipole and the second net dipole at least partially cancel each other.

Electrowetting element including a compound comprising a plurality of colorant moieties and a linker. The plurality of colorant moieties includes a first colorant moiety having a first net dipole and a second colorant moiety having a second net dipole. The plurality of colorant moieties are linked by and disposed around the linker so that the first net dipole and the second net dipole at least partially cancel each other.

An ink composition includes, as dyes, a dye (Bk-1) represented by the formula (Bk-1); and a dye (Bw-1) represented by the formula (Bw-1), in which a content ratio A (dye (Bk-1):dye (Bw-1)) of the dye (Bk-1) and the dye (Bw-1) is 100:18 to 100:40.

Electrowetting element including a compound comprising a plurality of colorant moieties and a linker. The plurality of colorant moieties includes a first colorant moiety having a first net dipole and a second colorant moiety having a second net dipole. The plurality of colorant moieties are linked by and disposed around the linker so that the first net dipole and the second net dipole at least partially cancel each other.