US Patent 7960904 - CNT field emitters subject to energy treatment

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7960904.html

This patent from Hyperion Catalysis has priority going back to 2001 and includes basic claims to carbon nanotube field emitters treated to decrease the working voltage. A prior art patent not considered during examination is US 6283812 with priority going back to 1999 and which teaches plasma, chemical, or mechanical treatment to truncate carbon nanotubes for field emission (column 5, line 22 - column 6, line 15). Claim 1 reads:

1. A field emission device comprising:

a cathode; and

an anode spaced from the cathode,

wherein said cathode includes emitters comprising carbon nanotubes which have been subjected to energy, plasma, chemical, or mechanical treatment.