Microchannel plates for field emission displays

Microchannel plates (MCPs) have been developed by introducing new materials and process technologies. Main body was made of alumina by programmable punching, laminating, and firing. The channel walls of pore arrays of an MCP were deposited with thin films by electroless copper plating and sol-gel process. Our MCP has advantages such as easy fabrication, durability, high temperature endurance, and applicability to the large size comparing with the conventional MCPs. Experiments on the brightness of an MCP incorporated FED revealed that the FED with a MCP is three to four times brighter than a conventional FED. Moreover, the focusing in a FED is improved. Incorporating an MCP into a FED is one of promising methods to enhance the characteristics of the FED. In addition, amplification yield of the MCP is measured for varying the aspect ratio and the input current.