US Patent 8011990 Process for improving the emission of electron field emitters

This invention provides a process for improving the field emission of an electron field emitter comprised of an acicular emitting substance such as acicular carbon, an acicular semiconductor, an acicular metal or a mixture thereof, comprising applying a force to the surface of the electron field emitter wherein the force results in the removal of a portion of the electron field emitter thereby forming a new surface of the electron field emitter.