A field-emission cathode ray tube (FE-CRT) has been fabricated using a unique nanostructure carbon electron emitter called carbon nanometer electron exit (CNX) which has been developed on stainless rod substrate with a special plasma chemical vapor deposition technique. Field emission from CNX has been investigated in a vacuum of 3 x 10(-6) Torr by using a diode configuration with a 5 mm diameter anode and an A-K gap of 1 mm, which shows that a emission current density of 1 mA/cm(2) can be obtained at an electrical field of 0.95 V/mu m. When the electrical field was increased to 2.4 V/mu m, an emission current density of 1.568 A/cm(2) was observed. Scanning electron microscopy images and micro-Raman spectrum were used to characterize the CNX film. The design of the emission system of electronic gun was optimized by simulating the equal-potential lines using a commercial software. Finally, a 4.5 in. FE-CRT with a specially designed emission system has been fabricated. (C) 2008 American Vacuum Society.