Growth and field emission of carbon nanotubes on sodalime glass at 550°C using thermal chemical vapor deposition

A low-temperature growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a sodalime glass substrate at 550°C was achieved by a thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of acetylene gas. Acetylene gas was heated in the first zone of the reactor at 850°C and then brought into the second zone maintained at 550°C for the nanotube growth on the glass substrate. The sodalime glass did not exhibit thermal deformation or material degradation throughout the process. Electron emission sufficient for flat panel displays was observed with the practical range of the applied field, i.e., 1 mA/cm2 at 5 V/μm. This development is an important progress in the integrated process for the mass production of glass-sealed CNT-based field emission displays (FEDs).