A method is disclosed for producing an electron emitter (1) with a component surface (3) of which is coated with a coating (2) that contains nanorods (4, 7), in particular carbon nanotubes. According to said method, an elastomer film is applied and is then peeled off to obtain a surface from which carbon nanotubes (7) with an upright orientation project upward from an inorganic and electrically conductive adhesive layer (5). In another example, an overall coating region of the electron emitter (1) has an average number (n) of carbon nanotubes (7) with a predominantly upright orientation that project upward from the electrically conductive adhesive layer (5), the number of nanotubes (7) with a predominantly upright orientation per mm.sup.2 protruding from the adhesive layer deviating from the average value (n) by not more than 25% for each partial coating region of a size of at least 10.sup.8 mm.sup.2.

The present application discloses an illumination light source including a base substrate; an anode layer on the base substrate; and a field emission illumination module having a carbon nanotubes layer on the base substrate; and a fluorescent powder layer on a side of the carbon nanotubes layer distal to the base substrate. The anode layer is on a side of the fluorescent powder layer distal to the carbon nanotubes layer.

The present application discloses an illumination light source including a base substrate; an anode layer on the base substrate; and a field emission illumination module having a carbon nanotubes layer on the base substrate; and a fluorescent powder layer on a side of the carbon nanotubes layer distal to the base substrate. The anode layer is on a side of the fluorescent powder layer distal to the carbon nanotubes layer.

A method of preparation of focal plane arrays of infrared bolometers includes processing carbon nanotubes to increase a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), followed by patterning to form focal plane arrays for infrared imaging.

A field emission (FE) cathode for a vacuum electronic device (VED) includes a graphite substrate or framework in the shape of a hollow cylinder, and at least one continuous carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber in tension or compression around at least a portion of the graphite substrate. The at least one continuous CNT fiber can include a filament, yarn, braided yarn, film, fabric, or combination thereof. The at least one continuous CNT fiber is secured to the electrically conductive substrate by vacuum brazing or any other suitable means.