US Patent 7462498 - Activation method for CNT field emission

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7462498.html

In order to achieve uniform field emission with carbon nanotube deposits it is useful to remove residual material. However, using an adhesive material for such removal can remove too many nanotubes and/or leave additional residue from the adhesive. This patent from Applied Nanotech (formerly Nano-Proprietary) teaches a simple method for flatten CNT films without such problems by using a non-adhesive material. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of improved electron field emission from a field emission cathode containing a layer of carbon nanotubes, said method comprising the steps of:

depositing said CNT layer onto a substrate;

pressing a non-adhesive material in contact with the CNT layer; and

removing the non-adhesive material from contact with the CNT layer.