Sub-micrometer　Sc2O3-W　powder　with　a　narrow　particle　size　distribution　has　been　obtained　by　a　sol-gel　method　combined　with　two-step　hydrogen　reduction　process.　Based　on　the　obtained　powder,　the　W-Sc2O3　targets　have　been　sintered　via　spark　plasma　sintering　(SPS)　at　1300　degrees　C.　The　W-Sc2O3　targets　have　the　average　grain　size　of　about　1　pm.　Both　the　sintering　temperature　and　holding　time　are　much　lower　than　those　of　the　targets　prepared　with　micrometer　sized　powders.　The　obtained　W-Sc2O3　targets　have　a　high　comparative　density　of　96.4%　and　rockwell　hardness　of　86.4　HRC.　Using　the　target,　the　scandate　cathode　deposited　with　a　film　containing　5%　Sc2O3　and　95%　W　has　been　obtained　by　pulsed　laser　deposition　(PLD)　method.　This　cathode　has　good　emission　property,　i.e.,　the　highest　thermionic　emission　current　density　reaches　43.09　A/cm(2)　of　idly　at　900　Cb　after　being　activated　for　8　h,　which　is　much　higher　than　that　of　scandate　cathode　without　film.　Scandium　(Sc)　supplied　by　the　film　on　the　surface　during　the　activation　forms　a　Ba-Sc-O　active　layer,　which　helps　to　the　emission.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.