Field electron emission from free-standing flexible PDMS-supported CNT-array films

The authors report the fabrication of free-standing carbon nanotube (CNT) array films supported by PDMS (poly-dimethylsiloxane) matrix, which opens up the possibility to transform deliberate CNT array architecture into flexible electronic and photonic components. The low viscosity and good wetting characteristics of uncured PDMS solution are important for thorough infiltration, and robustness and elasticity of cured PDMS are important for realization of deformable free-standing films detached from substrates (Duffy, 1999 and Lee, 2003). The characteristics of field-electron emission from PDMS-supported CNT arrays are also reported.