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We report on site-selective growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) from a Co nanoparticle catalyst patterned by an ink-jet printing (IJP) technique. The dispersion of the Co nanoparticles was employed as “catalyst ink” for the IJP, and the catalyst pattern was subjected to chemical vapor deposition of acetylene gas. The patterned array of MWNTs was obtained with a dot size around 5–30 μm and showed field emission of electrons corresponding to the printed pattern. The present method offers a simple and powerful means to pattern carbon nanotubes at desired positions with any patterns.

We succeeded for the first time in installing carbon nanotubes to vacuum tubes as field emitters. The fabrication processes of carbon nanotube field emission displays (FEDs) are almost the same as those for vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDS). A carbon-nanotube array was mounted on a cathode substrate in several ways. Surface treatment of fabricated carbon nanotube layers is important to emit electrons efficiently. Stable electron emission end adequate luminance of carbon nanotubes as field emitters were demonstrated using CRT-lighting-elements and VFD-like flat panel displays, A lighting-element is now undergoing a test of its lifetime under a dcl 2kV driving condition, suggesting a lifetime of over 10,000 hours.

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High-luminance triode-structure field-emission-display (FED) panel using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as emitters was first presented in 1999. [1,2] The demonstrated panel showed a good legibility and excellent luminance. After that, the emission stability in ambient gas was evaluated, and reported in 2000.[3] The toughness against ambient gas suggested that CNT FED would be applicable for a large size display panel. But, the experimental panel revealed the lack of luminous uniformity for actual displays. In IDRC'00, the emission uniformity was performed by the round edge smooth-surface cathode which was formed by CNT-network structure.[4] But, the luminous uniformity of large size full-dot-matrix display area was not satisfied by the distortion of line-grid electrodes. In IDRC'01, we proposed an improved structure to realize an uniform luminance all over the large display area. The results revealed that the new-structure improved the luminous uniformity with high-luminance. A 14.5 inch x-y addressed color panel with CNT field-emitters was performed by the new technology. In this paper, we realized a large size CNT-FED panel. The display area was ca.40-inches. The 40-inch-panel was realized by the CNT emitter and new structures for manufacturing. The experimental panel revealed the CNT-FED should be suitable for large size displays. The characteristics were discussed.