In　this　paper,　three　rare　earth　tungsten　(RE-W)　electrostatic　precipitation　cathodes　(cerium-tungsten　(Ce-W),　lanthanum-tungsten　(La-W)　and　yttrium-tungsten　(Y-W))　were　prepared　by　powder　metallurgy.　The　microstructure　and　the　electron　emission　properties　of　the　three　cathodes　were　examined.　The　application　of　the　Y-W　cathode　in　high　temperature　electrostatic　precipitation　was　investigated.　Results　show　that　the　addition　of　the　rare　earth　reduces　the　tungsten　crystal　size,　with　yttrium　(Y)　affecting　the　crystal　size　more　significantly　than　lanthanum　(La)　and　cerium　(Ce).　The　rare　earth　(cerium,　lanthanum　or　yttrium)　exists,　in　the　form　of　crystalline　tungstates,　at　the　tungsten　(W)　crystal　boundary.　The　effective　work　function　of　the　La-W　cathode　has　the　lowest　value　of　2.88　eV　at　vacuum　condition,　but　the　Y-W　cathode　shows　the　best　emission　properties　at　atmosphere　pressure.　The　collection　performance　of　an　electrostatic　precipitator　(ESP)　using　the　Y-W　cathode　was　investigated　by　ash　particles　with　various　resistivity　and　size　distribution　at　various　temperatures.　The　particles　with　higher　resistivity　tend　to　be　collected　effectively　at　high　ambient　temperature,　and　the　collection　efficiency　rise　with　the　increase　in　temperature.　If　the　resistivity　of　dusts　is　not　high　enough,　corresponding　to　the　highest　collection　efficiency,　there　exists　an　optimum　temperature　value.　As　in　a　conventional　corona　ESP,　the　larger　particles　are　collected　more　effectively　in　an　ESP　with　Y-W　cathode.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.