Field-electron emission from flexible carbon nanotube array cathodes

Abstract

The authors report two approaches to fabricate flexible cold cathodes having vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) as active electron-emitting material. In the first approach, VACNT arrays were removed from substrates, transferred to flexible metal foils or plastic films, and secured by conductive epoxy. In the other approach, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used as a supporting matrix to fabricate more sturdy freestanding flexible cathodes. Controlled infiltration of PDMS to keep the top surfaces of VACNT columns from being buried underneath PDMS was the key of this approach. Both of these methods allowed fabrication of flexible cold cathode, and preliminary test results of fabricated flexible cold cathodes showed good field-emission characteristics.