Metal-glass composite field-emitting arrays

A field-emitting array is provided which comprises at least one thin wafer having electrically conducting filaments extending through a glass matrix between a first and second parallel surface of the wafer. At the first surface, the filaments extend beyond the plane of the glass matrix. The filaments extending beyond the first surface have an electron-emitting coating on their cylindrical surfaces. The coating extends beyond the filament end to create a shape that emits electrons when an electrical field is applied between the filaments and an anode. In an alternative embodiment, the filaments are recessed below the first surface and a conducting coating forms an extractor on that surface.