Side electron emission device using carbon nanofiber/elastomer composite sheet

A side electron emission device was made of a carbon nanofiber/elastomer composite sheet. Instead of a conventional field emission configuration, electron emitters consisting of cross-sectional sides of the composite sheet were put in position perpendicular to the phosphor/anode surface by inserting an insulating spacer. Light emission of 4200 cd ∕ m 2 at 1 kV was achieved by intense electron emission from the cross section since the carbon nanofibers preferentially orient parallel to the sheet plane and stick out of the cross section. This simple device structure enabled us to fabricate a flexible, transparent field emission device.