High performance field emission in hybrid carbon nanotube-PDMS composite

We present a novel method of fabricating flexible carbon nanotube polymer composites by embedding aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) architectures into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer matrix. These structures are easily transferable, electromechanically robust and extremely flexible, and therefore suitable for applications as multifunctional flexible electronic devices. A combination of controlled placement of aligned multi-walled nanotubes on pre-patterned locations and an effective suppression of mutual screening gives these devices impressive field emission properties. With large field emission factors ($\beta \sim $10$^{4})$ and low (sub 1V/$\mu $m) turn-on fields, these composites can easily operate at high current densities ($>$1mA/cm$^{2})$ at relatively low voltages making them also suitable for applications in electrically and mechanically stable flexible sensors and display devices.