Cheng-Chung Lee

Field emission characteristics of carbon nanotube emitters synthesized by arc discharge

The fabrication of carbon nanotube emitters with excellent emission properties is described. The nanotubes synthesized by arc discharge are used as electron emitters. The fibrous bundles containing nanotubes were crushed, mixed with conductive pastes, and slurries and then screen printed. The scanning electron microscopy images showed that the nanotubes were disordered and the average diameter was about several tens of nanometers. In a diode structure, the electron field emission can be turned on at a field as low as 2 V/μm and attains current density as large as 7.2 mA/cm2. No significant degradation of these performance is observed for thus made electron emitters, operated under 3 V/μm (J=2.8u200amA/cm2) for tens of hours. The influence of the growth condition and post-treatment process on the emission characteristics of carbon nanotubes emitters will also be discussed in this article.

22.3: A Reflective‐Type Carbon Nanotube Field Emission Display

A 3.5-inch, 60×120 pixels, reflective-type carbon nanotube emitter field-emission display has been fabricated by thick-film process. A seven-segment numerical indicator showing digit image was also demonstrated using opposed diode structure as comparison. The technical development, including design and fabrication of the nanotube emitters, phosphor, and vacuum package process was described.

Numerical indicator field emission display using carbon nanotubes as emitters

A field emission display using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as emitters is demonstrated. The CNTs, synthesized by arc discharge, were screen printed on glass to serve as the cold cathode. The anode plate, which was indium–tin–oxide coated glass printed with P15 phosphor, was separated from the cathode using 110 μm spacers. The diode structure possesses marvelous field emission properties, including low turn-on voltage (250 V), large emission current density (2.6 mA/cm2 under 450 V) and high brightness (2500 nits). A numerical indicator with 15 pixels, driven by metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistors using a gate voltage of 5 V for controlling the on/off of each pixel, illustrates the capability of data addressing.

Field emission display using carbon nanotubes as emitters

A fully sealed field emission display (FED), indicator, using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as emitters is examined. The CNTs chunk, synthesized by arc discharge, were crushed, mixed with conductive pastes and then screen-printed on glass for the cold cathode. And the anode plate, an ITO glass printed P15 phosphor, was separated from cathode using 90 micrometers spacers. The indicator display performed a turn-on voltage as low as 250 V, and the emission current density 2.2 mA/cm2 under 300 V with brightness of 500 nits. The pixels, driven by open drain IC with 5 V gate voltage, showed the clock image which indicated the application of CNTs-FED. No significant degradation of this performance was observed during 1000 mins testing. The influence of printing condition and surface treatment process on the emission characteristics will also be discussed in this letter.

Field emission characteristics of carbon nanotube emitters using screen-printing technique

A carbon nanotube emitter with high uniformity, adhesion and emission current has been formed by screen printing. The raw carbon nanotubes (CNTs) chunk were crushed, purified, dispersed, mixed with organic additives and then screen printed on Ag electrode. After burning out the organic additives under two thermal cycles, the surface of CNTs emitters were treated. The treated emitters showed a better emission characteristic than untreated emitters.