A　planar-gate　electron　source　with　multi-wall　carbon　nanotubes　(MWNTs)　has　been　successfully　fabricated　by　conventional　magnetron　sputtering,　lithography　and　electrophoretic　deposition　(EPD).　The　optical　microscopy　showed　that　he　MWNTs　purified　in　H2SO4/HNO3　solution　were　selectively　deposited　on　cathode.　High　resolution　transmission　electron　microscopy　(HRTEM)　images　and　Raman　spectra　demonstrated　that　some　MWNTs　was　destroyed　and　generated　some　defect.　Field　emission　results　indicated　that　the　emission　current　of　this　triode　structure　is　completely　controlled　by　gate　voltage.　The　turn-on　voltage　of　electrophoretic　deposited　MWNTs　cathode　at　current　density　of　1　μA/cm2　was　lower　than　that　of　screen　printed　MWNTs　cathode　besides　better　emission　uniformity.　In　addition,　the　emission　current　fluctuation　was　less　than　3%　for　400　min.　All　the　results　indicate　that　the　fabricated　electron　emission　source　has　a　good　field　emission　performance　and　long　lifetime.　©　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.