A carbon nanotube (CNT) electron emitter source is provided according to the present invention. The CNT electron emitter source includes a dielectric glass substrate (101), a plurality of cathode connectors (102), a plurality of metal wires (103), a plurality of CNT electron emitters (104) provided on surfaces of the metal wires, and a plurality of dielectric barriers (105). The cathode connectors are distributed along two opposite sides of the dielectric glass substrate. Each of the metal wires has two terminals secured on a pair of corresponding opposite cathode connectors. Each of the metal wires has a substantially protrusive surface, and at least some of the electron emitters discretely extend from the protrusive surface into a space surrounding the metal wire. The dielectric barriers are distributed on the dielectric glass substrate alternately between the metal wires.