US Patent 7355334 - Crosslinked CNT electron emitter

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/US7355334.html

This patent from Fuji Xerox claims crosslinking of carbon nanotubes in forming an electron emitter to increase mechanical and electrical stability. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electron beam generator device comprising: a base body having a conductive surface; and an electron-emission electrode having a carbon nanotube structure on the conductive surface of the base body, wherein the carbon nanotube structure constitutes a network structure which has plural carbon nanotubes and a crosslinked part including a chemical bond of plural functional groups, the chemical bond at least connecting one end of one of the carbon nanotubes to another one of the carbon nanotubes.

However, US Patent 6,057,637 was not considered during prosecution and may by relevant as teaching the use of an epoxy matrix and crosslinking carbon based nanotubes for a field emission device (see column 5, line 66 - column 6, line 7).