Patent ID: 7648406

Claim:
A method for producing a carbon nanotube array element of a field emission cathode device, comprising the steps of: providing a first substrate having a surface coated with a conductive paste layer; forming an array of thin film blocks of catalyst on a second substrate; forming each of the thin film blocks into islands of catalyst on the second substrate; forming carbon nanotube bundles on the islands of catalyst on the second substrate, each of the carbon nanotube bundles including a plurality of carbon nanotubes and having a free end portion distal from the second substrate; pressing the second substrate toward the first substrate such that the free end portions of the carbon nanotube bundles insert into the conductive paste layer; solidifying the conductive paste layer so as to fix the free end portions of the carbon nanotube bundles to the first substrate; and removing the second substrate together with the islands of catalyst from the carbon nanotube bundles fixed to the first substrate, thereby forming an open end for each of the carbon nanotubes.