Carbon Nanotube Field Emission Display

Abstract

An excellent performance of carbon nanotubes as field-emitters was demonstrated using a high-voltage FED (field emission display) elements at SID (Society for Information Display) in 1998, where a light-source tube for an outdoor large-size display and diode-type flat panel were presented with a screen-printed nanotube cathode [1]. The diode FED-panel image was presented by Samsung at SID in 1999 [2]. After that, a triode structure that describes an x-y addressable high-luminance FED panel was introduced at IDRC (International Display Research Conference) in 1999. The experimental panel gave approximately 7×10⁵ cd/m² of green light at 6 kV, at approximately 1 mA/cm² d.c.-driving condition [3]. The driving voltage was decreased to less than 100 V, and homogeneous emission was realized by NEC at IDW (International Display Workshops) in 2000 [4]. On the other hand, a thermal CVD (chemical vapor deposition) technology was applied for making large-area high-luminance segment-displays at IDRC in 2000 [5]. The results show the excellent performance of carbon nanotube FED as flat panel displays, which are applicable to large-size TV devices. This panel will not only be suitable for future TV displays but also light sources for field sequential color LCDs.