A flat panel device (300) includes a spacer (308) for providing internal support. The spacer can be made of ceramic or glass-ceramic. Spacer surfaces exposed within the flat panel device are treated to reduce secondary emissions and prevent charging of the spacer surfaces. A light-emitting structure contains a main section (302), a pattern of dark ridges (314) situated along the main section, and a plurality of electron-activated light-emissive regions (313) situated in spaces between the ridges. The dark ridges extend further away from the main section than the light-emissive regions to form a raised black matrix. When the light-emitting structure is used in an optical display, the raised black matrix contacts spacers (308) and, in so doing, protects the light-emissive regions from being damaged. The light-emitting structure can be formed according to various techniques of the invention.