US Patent 7202596 Electron emitter and process of fabrication

An electron emitter is formed by in situ growth from the vapor on catalyst clusters that are adhered by an adhesion layer to a conductive electrode. The emitter comprises hemispheroidal nanofiber clusters that emit electrons at low field strengths and high current densities, producing bright light by the interaction of the electrons and a fluorescent and/or phosphorescent film on an anode spaced across an evacuated gap. The nanofibers may be grown such that the nanofiber clusters are entangled, restricting movement of individual nanofibers.