Disclosed are an electron-emitting element having a large operating current at a low operating voltage and excellent operation stability, and an electron source, an image display device and the like utilizing such an electron-emitting element, and further a method of fabricating such an element with few process steps at low cost. A cold cathode member is configured utilizing hybrid particle of a first particle serving to emit electrons into the space and a second particle being in the vicinity of the first particle and serving to control the position of the first particle. In this configuration, it is preferable that the first particle have a higher electron emission efficiency than the second particle and that the second particle be conductive.