A field emission display panel of the diode structure that has a dual-layer cathode and an anode formed on a bottom glass panel and a method for such fabrication are described. In the FED panel, a plurality of emitter stacks is formed each having a layer of dielectric material, a first layer of a conductive paste coated with a layer of nanotube emitters on a peripheral, sidewall surface as a cathode, and a second layer of the conductive paste deposited on top of the nanotube emitter layer. The first layer and the second layer are formed in a column shape. The second conductive paste layer stops any nanotubes left on a top surface of the first conductive paste layer from emitting electrons in an upward direction and restricts all emitted electrons in a downward direction.