In accordance with the invention, there are field emission light emitting devices and methods of making them. The field emission light emitting device can include a plurality of spacers, each connecting a substantially transparent substrate to a backing substrate. The device can also include a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels can include one or snore first electrodes disposed over the substantially transparent substrate, a light emitting layer disposed over each of the one or more first electrodes, and one or more second electrodes disposed over the backing substrate, wherein the one or more second electrodes and the one or more first electrode are disposed at a predetermined gap in a low pressure region. Each of the plurality of pixels can further include one or more nanocylinder electron emitter arrays disposed over each of the one or more second electrodes.