New Electron Field Emission Films Based on Aligned Carbon Nanotube Guests in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Hosts

本项目旨在开发一种新型的由液晶聚合物中的纳米管组成的电子场发射纳米复合材料。电子发射材料在X射线和微波发电、计算机显示器和低能耗照明方面的需求很大。我们利用液晶单元在磁场中随时可对准的特性，使结合的碳纳米管重新排列，然后使聚合物固化以保持取向。它涉及低温加工，这与目前有问题的高温加工形成了非常有利的对比。这使得材料可以浇铸在柔性聚合物衬底上，从而有可能建造阴极管来取代现有的含汞荧光灯。

This project seeks to develop a new class of electron field emitting nanocomposite consisting of nanotubes in liquid crystalline polymers. Electron emitting materials are in much demand in x-ray and microwave generation, computer displays and low-energy lighting. We utilise the ready alignability of liquid crystalline units in magnetic fields to cause realignment of incorporated carbon nanotubes, followed by polymer solidification to maintain orientation. It involves low temperature processing, contrasting very favourably with current problematic, high temperature processes. This allows materials to be cast on flexible polymer substrates, potentially enabling construction of cathode tubes to replace existing mercury-containing fluorescent lighting.