Relationship between field emission property and composition of carbon nanotube paste for large area cold cathode

Carbon nanotube (CNT) paste was prepared by a mixture of multi-walled carbon nanotubes powders synthesized by arc discharge, organic vehicles and inorganic binders. We investigated rheological properties of CNT paste using a rheometer. In order to obtain the fine dispersion of CNTs in paste, pass time of 3-roll mill was increased from 3-15. However, emission current density was decreased with an increase in pass time of 3-roll mill because of an increase in the interaction among CNT powders, organic vehicles and inorganic binder. It was found that emission property of a CNT paste depends mainly on the concentration of inorganic binder and firing time. We obtained good emission property by using a CNT paste with 30 wt% inorganic binders after treatment at 350 degreesC for 30 min. (C) 2004 American Vacuum Society.