An emission device is provided for extracting electrons onto an anode of a visual display. The emission device (10) includes a conductivity limited material (18) positioned between first and second electrodes (14, 16) and having a surface (26). A plurality of catalytic nanoparticles (22) are distributed throughout the conductivity limited material (18), wherein some of the catalytic particles (22) are contiguous to the surface (26). A plurality of nanostructures (24), such as carbon nanotubes, are grown from the catalytic nanoparticles (22) contiguous to the surface (26). A voltage is applied across the conductivity limited material (18) having a plurality of catalytic particles (22) embedded therein, thereby causing the electrons to tunnel between the catalytic particles (22). An anode (28) is spaced apart from the nanostructures (24) for extracting and receiving electrons emitted from the nanostructures (24) when a first potential is applied across the first and second electrodes (14, 16) and a second potential is applied to the anode (28).