Secondary electron emission in a triode carbon nanotube field emission display and its influence on the image quality

The secondary electron (SE) emission (SEE) in a triode carbon nanotube (CNT) field emission display (FED) and its influence on the image quality have been studied with a 3.5 in. vacuum-sealed FED prototype fabricated by using screen printing and frit sealing techniques. By analyzing the emission property difference of the device under two different kinds of work modes, we have found that it is the SEE from the insulator above the gate that induced the anode image distortion of FED under normal work mode. Two improved structures, by decreasing the size of insulator layer and by coating a conductive layer to stabilize the potential of the insulators, are provided to eliminate SEE influence and achieved a uniform anode image. It is expected that our results will benefit the research and design of CNT FED with high performance.