Properties of a field emission lighting device employing high crystallized single-wall carbon nanotubes

We developed a new cathode for a visible ray flat plane-emission device formed from a mixture of high crystallized single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) dispersed into an organic In₂O₃-SnO₂ solution. A thin film cathode was fabricated by a simple coating process of the mixture onto a substrate. The turn-on field of a diode using the cathode was 1.2 V/μm and the brightness homogeneity in that plane was within 5 %. The brightness fluctuation from the lighting device could be reduced to within 1 % by employing high crystallized SWNTs. Furthermore, brightness efficiency, which is an important factor in comparing luminance devices, achieved more than 50 lm / W. This flat plane-emission device has the potential to provide a new approach to lighting in our life style and it also contributes to energy-saving through its low power consumption.