We discuss the influence of few-walled carbon nanotubes (FWCNTs) treated with nitric acid and/or sulfuric acid on field emission characteristics. FWCNTs/tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) thin film field emitters were fabricated by a spray method using FWCNTs/TEOS sol one-component solution onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass. After thermal curing, they were found tightly adhered to the ITO glass, and after an activation process by a taping method, numerous FWCNTs were aligned preferentially in the vertical direction. Pristine FWCNT/TEOS-based field emitters revealed higher current density, lower turn-on field, and a higher field enhancement factor than the oxidized FWCNTs-based field emitters. However, the unstable dispersion of pristine FWCNT in TEOS/N,N-dimethylformamide solution was not applicable to the field emitter fabrication using a spray method. Although the field emitter of nitric acid-treated FWCNT showed slightly lower field emission characteristics, this could be improved by the introduction of metal nanoparticles or resistive layer coating. Thus, we can conclude that our spray method using nitric acid-treated FWCNT could be useful for fabricating a field emitter and offers several advantages compared to previously reported techniques such as chemical vapor deposition and screen printing.

• Hae-Deuk Jeong(Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Nano Carbon Materials Research Group, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute)
• Jong-Hyeok Lee(Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology)
• Byung-Gap Lee(Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology)
• Hee-Jin Jeong(Nano Carbon Materials Research Group, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute)
• Geon-Woong Lee(Nano Carbon Materials Research Group, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute)
• Dae-Suk Bang(Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology) Corresponding Author
• Dong-Hwan Cho(Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology)
• Young-Bin Park(School of Mechanical and Advanced Materials Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)
• Kwang-Hwan Jhee(Department of Applied Chemistry, Kumoh National Institute of Technology)