Carbon nanotubes/nanofibers (CNTs) used as emitters, diode-type field emission display (FED) prototypes of dot matrix and character images were fabricated by low-cost techniques and equipments, respectively. The technical development in the design and fabrication of the cathode, the anode, and the panel, is described. CNTs were produced by a simple, low-cost and easily-controllable thermal chemical vapor deposition. The cathode was prepared by the screen-printing method. The field emission characteristics were enhanced by a heat post-treatment in H-2 gas atmosphere. The panel structure was packaged by a vacuum fluorescent display-like process and vacuum-sealed through an exhaust glass tube. The fully-sealed CNTs FED (c-FED) showed good emission properties. The brightness of 600 cd/ m(2) was achieved from the yellow phosphor at a relatively low applied electric field. The developed technology has a potential practical application in c-FED. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.