Metal-oxide-metal (MOM) systems serving as models of supported metal catalysts, can also be used advantageously as stable field emission cathodes. provided that the external metallic layer, such as Au. is chemically "inert". The mechanism of the field emission from MOM and MM (metal-on-metal) cathodes was experimentally investigated Results of these studies were compared and advantages of MOM systems demonstrated. The application of MOM systems to investigations of the dynamics of electron and energy transfer in catalytic reactions is proposed.