Study on field emission properties of carbon nanotubes cold cathode film for field emission display

Based on the facts that Ag nano-particles can be melted under low temperature and the formed Ag film has good electrical and heat conductivity, a new preparation process for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) cold cathode was developed through the replacement of traditional organic or inorganic binders with Ag nano-particles. This method has the advantages of low sintering temperature (< 250 degrees C) and fine electrical contact between CNTs paste and substrate. The measurement revealed that the turn on field and the threshold field of as-prepared CNTs cathode are 2.1 and 3. 9 V/mu m respectively. In order to modify its field emission properties, Ar microwave plasma treatment was performed to the as-prepared cathode film. Field emission measurement showed that the Ar treated CNTs/Ag nano-particles cathode film showed a reduction of the threshold field from 3. 9 V/mu m to 2. 5 V/mu m and an increase in the field emission current as evidence of emission current density at an applied field of 3. 1 V/mu m increasing from 2. 2 to 32. 1 mA/cm(2) after treatment. The luminescent images on phosphor screen indicated that the number density of electron emission sites and emission current uniformity of CNTs film were all raised obviously after treated by Ar plasma for 6 min.