Patent ID: 7780496

Claim:
A method for fabricating a surface-conduction electron emitter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate comprising a surface; (b) disposing a first lower electrode layer and a second lower electrode layer on the surface of the substrate, the first lower electrode layer and second lower electrode layer are parallel and apart from each other; (c) disposing a plurality of carbon nanotube elements on the first lower electrode layer and the second lower electrode layer; (d) disposing a first upper electrode layer on the first lower electrode layer, and disposing a second upper electrode layer on the second lower electrode layer; wherein a portion of the plurality of carbon nanotube elements are in contact with and sandwiched between the first lower electrode layer and the first upper electrode layer and another portion of the plurality of carbon nanotube elements are in contact with and sandwiched between the second lower electrode layer and the second upper electrode layer; and (e) forming a micro-fissure between the carbon nanotube elements.