P‐36: Effects of Binder Materials in CNT Paste on Field Emission Properties for CNT‐Cathode Applications

Abstract

The effects of binder materials in carbon nanotube (CNT) paste on field emission properties were investigated with respect to high‐efficient CNT‐cathode applications. The binder materials that bond the CNTs to a cathode electrode were composed of an insulating glass‐frit and a conducting Ag‐paste. The dependence of the electrical conductivity of CNT paste comprised of binder material and CNTs ink on the field enhancement factor was investigated using the Fowler‐Norheim equation. CNT films were prepared via a screen‐printing process using the CNT paste. The emission current from the CNT cathode by an electron tunneling effect was increased with increasing ratio of the dielectric glass‐frit fraction in the CNT paste. The reason for the larger emission current from the CNT cathode containing insulating binder materials is due to the increased effective height of CNTs which protrude over the film in the cathode electrode, which effects the field enhancement factor.