Carbon　nanotube　(CNT)　cathodes　prepared　by　electrophoretic　deposition　were　treated　by　a　combination　of　nickel　electroplating　and　cathode　corrosion　technologies.　The　characteristics　of　the　samples　were　measured　by　scanning　electron　microscopy,　energy　dispersive　X-ray　spectroscopy,　J-E　and　F　-　N　plots.　After　the　treatment,　the　CNT　cathodes　showed　improved　field　emission　properties　such　as　turn-on　field,　threshold　electric　field,　current　density,　stability　and　luminescence　uniformity.　Concretely,　the　turn-on　field　decreased　from　0.95　to　0.45　V/μm　at　an　emission　current　density　of　1　mA/cm2,　and　the　threshold　electric　field　decreased　from　0.99　to　0.46　V/μm　at　a　current　density　of　3　mA/cm2.　The　maximum　current　density　was　up　to　7　mA/cm2　at　a　field　of　0.48　V/μm.　In　addition,　the　current　density　of　the　CNT　cathodes　fluctuated　at　around　0.7　mA/cm2　for　20　h,　with　an　initial　current　density　0.75　mA/cm2.　The　improvement　in　field　emission　properties　was　found　to　be　due　to　the　exposure　of　more　CNT　tips,　the　wider　gaps　among　the　CNTs　and　the　infiltration　of　nickel　particles.　©　2012　Chinese　Institute　of　Electronics.