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This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating a carbon nanotube based field emission device (FED) and of operating FEDs. The approach is a natural extension of the patented Nanotube Catalyst Retaining Structure (NCRS) method. Phase I is expected to overcome limitations that have prevented FEDs from successful use in the established liquid crystal display (LCD) market and to initiate a broad range of other applications that require growth of aligned carbon nanotubes as functional elements of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). This new concept in nanotechnology will be useful in application of carbon nanotubes as functional elements of integrated circuit (IC) and MEMS devices involving a multi-layered structure of metal, insulator, and carbon nanotubes. Potential commercial applications are expected in field emission displays, electron microscopes, illumination devices, sensors, and similar devices.