Triode-type field emission array using carbon nanotubes and a conducting polymer composite prepared by electrochemical polymerization

We report a method to fabricate carbon nanotubes (CNT)/conducting polymer composite films for the application of CNTs to field emission displays. The composite was prepared by a combination of electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole and electrophoretic deposition of CNTs. We obtained a uniform CNT/conducting polypyrrole polymer composite film. The CNTs were mainly coated on protrusions of the polypyrrole film and emitted electrons without rubbing and stretching. We realized a triode-type field emission array (FEA) using the CNT/polypyrrol composite. This FEA showed that the emission current was modulated by gate voltage of 30 V. The film morphology and emission characteristics of the CNT/conducting polymer composite were studied using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and an emission test in vacuum. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.