Low temperature growth of carbon nanotubes on printing electrodes by MPCVD

In this work, combination of screen-printing process and microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system (MPCVD) was applied to fabricate patterned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the cathode electrodes on glass substrates. Solution based Ni catalyst was well-mixed with Ag powders and organic binder materials to form screen printed paste. CNTs were then grown under the atmosphere of CH4/H2 gas mixture below 550 °C. In the field emission measurement, the turn-on field was 3.2 V/μm and uniform electron emission image was also observed.