Characteristics of Carbon Nanotube Electron Field Emission Devices Prepared by LTCC Process

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) possess marvelous electron field emission properties and have been widely investigated for applications as electron sources in field emission displays (FED). While the high quality carbon nanotubes can be synthesized by several methods, including laser ablation, thermal chemical vapor deposition and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition techniques, direct growth of CNT on electron field emission devices is still very difficult due to stringent control of synthesizing conditions necessary. Screen-printing of CNT/Ag-paste on glass substrates is an inexpensive and efficient way of making large patterned emitter arrays, but suffered from the packaging and electrical connecting problems. In contrast, low temperature cofirable ceramics (LTCC), which provide mutilayer inter-connection and hermit seal at the same time, are thus suitable for using as substrate materials for electron emitters. In this paper, we shall demonstrate the electron field emitters using CNT printed on LTCC as electron sources.