| abstract |
The invention provides improved devices containing adherentncarbon nanotube films, in particular electron field emitter structuresncontaining such films. Previously, attaining even moderate adherence ofnpowdery or mat-like nanotubes to a substrate was difficult, because ofnthe perfect fullerene structure of nanotubes, which tend to exhibit nondangling bonds or defect sites where chemical bonding to the substrate isnable to occur. The invention overcomes these problems, and provides anstrongly adherent nanotube film, by a variety of fabrication processesnincluding dispersion of carbon nanotubes in a solvent and sprayingnthe dispersion at a substrate. |