Optimization of field emission properties of carbon nanotubes cathodes by electrophoretic deposition

Cold cathodes of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were deposited on the glass substrate by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. The cathodes were tested in the diode construction with the cathode-anode gap of 170 mu m in vacuum. The emission characteristics of the CNTs film cathodes have as good properties as those by screen printing and better emission uniformity. The influence of the voltage between electrodes in the electrophoretic process of flat cold cathode fabrication on the uniformity of the CNTs film distribution was studied. The results indicate that the uniformity of CNTs film cathode by EPD depends on the voltage between electrodes during the electrophoretic deposition. The uniformity of CNTs film and optimized emission properties of the cathode have been achieved when the voltage is 25 V. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.