US Patent 7741765 - CNT field emitter with support wire

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7741765.html

Chemical vapor deposition is a common technique used to manufacture electron emitting devices based on carbon nanotubes. One deficiency in this method is that electrically induced mechanical stress can weaken the connection between the nanotubes and a cathode on which the nanotubes are grown. This patent from Hon Hai Precision teaches an alternative arrangement based on carbon nanotube yarn twisted around a cathode wire. Claim 1 reads:

1. A field emission element comprising:

at least one supporting wire; and

at least one carbon nanotube wire, the at least one carbon nanotube wire and the at least one supporting wire are twisted together,

a conductive cathode electrode, wherein the supporting wire is electrically fixed on the conductive cathode electrode and comprised of a material different from that of the at least one carbon nanotube wire.