The European Physical Journal Applied Physics

Table of Contents - June 2008 - Volume 42, Issue 03  

Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies

High-current-density field emission display fabricated from single-walled carbon nanotube electron sources

P. Zhaoa1, X. F. Shanga1, Y. P. Maa1, J. J. Zhoua1, Z. Q. Gua1, Z. H. Lia2, Y. B. Xua1 and M. Wanga1

Department of Physics Zhejiang University, Hang Zhou 310027, P.R. China

Department of Mechanics Zhejiang University, Hang Zhou 310027, P.R. China

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes can be used as electron sources in the process of field emission, and have great potential for practical application of the field emission display (FED) panels with large screen size. We fabricated a FED using the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as the cathode by the screen-printing process. Test showed that the SWNTs emitters exhibit excellent macroscopic emission properties. It has low turn-on voltage (2.7 V/μm) and high brightness, with a high current density of good uniformity and stability. It was observed that the field emission qualitatively follows the conventional Fowler–Nordheim (F–N) theory, and aging treatment played an important role in improving the image uniformity and stability. Compared to other complicated processes, the simple fabrication using screen-printing process seems to be advantageous for practical application.

(Received November 30 2007)

(Revised February 22 2008)

(Accepted March 19 2008)

(Online publication April 30 2008)

PACS:

  • 61.46.Fg – Nanotubes

miaowang@css.edu.cn