Carbon　nanotubes　(CNTs)　are　known　for　their　excellent　emission　properties　because　of　their　own　characteristics.　This　paper　described　the　fabrication　of　a　new　planar　field　emission　backlight　unit　(FE-BLU)　with　CNTs.　The　CNT　cathodes　were　prepared　by　screen-printing　on　elaborate　Ag　electrodes　and　sealed　into　a　prototype　of　10-inch　FE-BLU　after　CNTs　had　been　chemical　modified.　The　results　showed　that　the　CNT　cathode　had　good　field　emission　properties,　with　low　turn-on　electric　field　of　1.0　V/μm,　the　current　density　of　7.0　mA/cm2　at　the　electric　field　3.0　V/μm,　and　high　luminance　brightness　of　5300　cd/m　2.　Moreover,　the　CNT　FE-BLU　demonstrated　a　good　performance　of　luminance　brightness　3200　cd/m2　without　significant　degradation　after　80　days.　©2009　IEEE.