Long lifetime of field emitters fabricated using carbon nanotube paste

We have measured electron emission from carbon nanotube (CNT) emitter prepared using CNT paste and obtained long-term stability of field emission. Its lifetime observed in the sealed device at constant applied voltage was longer than 20,000 hrs. CNT emitter was treated by plasma in order to increase the stability. We observed that plasma treatment changed the surface morphology in CNT layer. The plasma etched the protruded CNT, resulting in the uniform height of CNT on the emitter layer.