Carbon Nanotube/Aluminum Composites As a Novel Field Electron Emitter

We have succeeded in homogeneously dispersing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) into an aluminum (Al) matrix by a novel elastomer precursor method. In thus prepared composite, the disentangled MWNTs were tightly bound to the Al matrix via oxygen-mediated AlN interfacial layer. The morphology of the composite surface was controlled by different polishing procedures and their field electron emission characteristics were investigated using a mesh-gate triode-type device. The MWNT/Al plate with well-rugged surface emitted electrons over a threshold electric field of 3 V/µm. The current density of 1 mA/cm2 was obtained at 6 V/µm and the luminance reached 400 cd/m2 under operation at 8 V/µm.