Devices for use in cold-field emission and methods of forming the device are generally presented. In one example, a method may include providing a conductive base, dispersing carbon-filled acrylic onto the conductive base to form a conductive film, coupling a copper plate to a first side of the conductive film, and irradiating the conductive film. The method may further include dispersing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a second side of the conductive film to form a substantially uniform layer of CNTs, removing excess CNTs from the second side, and curing the conductive film. In one example, a device may include a polycarbonate base, a layer of carbon-filled acrylic on one side of the polycarbonate base and a layer of irradiated carbon-filled acrylic on the other, a copper plate coupled to the carbon-filled acrylic, and a substantially uniform layer of randomly aligned CNTs dispersed on the irradiated carbon-filled acrylic.