Noritake has been developing a field emission display (FED) provided with a carbon-nanotube (CNT) electron emitter. FED is an emissive flat panel display device that has a phosphor screen emitting light by electron irradiation similar to cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). Therefore, FEDs enable high luminance display and in addition FEDs have the advantage of low power consumption. We intended to use CNT as an emitter material because of their high-aspect ratio shape.

Carbon Nanotube CNT is a honeycomb carbon lattice rolled into a cylinder with a diameter of about 1 - 50nm and a length of a few microns. CNTs were discovered by Prof. Iijima in 1991 and are characterized by thinness, light weight, high heat-conductivity and a higher strength than steel.

We intend to develop a CNT-FED for half-meter-sized character displays, which will be used for color message displays. Such displays can be used with battery power. The high luminance of a display panel can provide good visibility when installed even in outdoor locations. The development and practical application of CNT-FED technology is expected to provide displays of important messages for inhabitants to evacuate from disaster areas, even under emergency no-power conditions.