Field emission devices including nanotubes or other nanoscale articles
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsTimothy M. Swager, Hongwei Gu
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Abstract
The present invention provides devices comprising an assembly of carbon nanotubes, and related methods. In some cases, the carbon nanotubes may have enhanced alignment. Devices of the invention may comprise features and/or components which may enhance the emission of electrons and may lower the operating voltage of the devices. Using methods described herein, carbon nanotube assemblies may be manufactured rapidly, at low cost, and over a large surface area. Such devices may be useful in display applications such as field emission devices, or other applications requiring high image quality, low power consumption, and stability over a wide temperature range.
Claims28
A method of generating an emission, comprising:
- providing a field emission device comprising an electrode having a surface, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes in electrical communication with the surface, the carbon nanotubes supported by a polymer support material and in substantial alignment with each other with their major axis in non-parallel relation to the electrode surface such that at least 25% of carbon nanotubes are substantially contained within the polymer support material and do not contact other carbon nanotubes, wherein the field emission device is fabricated by contacting a substrate with a mixture comprising carbon nanotubes, a precursor of the polymer support material, and a fluid carrier;
- and
- generating a field emission signal from the electrode.
An electrode for a field induced emission device, comprising:
- an electrode comprising an assembly of carbon nanotubes and a polymer support material integrally connected to at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes such that the carbon nanotubes are substantially contained within the polymer support material, wherein the electrode is fabricated by contacting a substrate with a mixture comprising carbon nanotubes, a precursor of the polymer support material, and a fluid carrier,
- wherein, upon application of an electric field, the device exhibits a conductivity at least five times lower than in an essentially identical device lacking the polymer, under essentially identical conditions.
A method of forming an assembly of carbon nanotubes on a surface of a substrate, comprising:
- providing a mixture comprising carbon nanotubes, a precursor of a polymer support material for the carbon nanotubes, and a fluid carrier;
- contacting a substrate with the mixture;
- exposing the mixture, on the substrate, to an electric field that orients the carbon nanotubes;
- and
- forming the assembly on the surface of the substrate, comprising the carbon nanotubes supported by the polymer support material in an orientation wherein the long axes of the carbon nanotubes are substantially aligned and non-parallel to the surface of the substrate and at least 25% of carbon nanotubes are substantially contained within the polymer support material and do not contact other carbon nanotubes,
- wherein the polymer support material comprises a conducting polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.