A　fast　sintering　method,　spark　plasma　sintering　(SPS)　was　used　for　the　synthesis　of　rare　earth　oxide-molybdenum　cathode　material.　The　secondary　emission　property,　microstructure,　and　phase　constitution　of　materials　have　been　studied　in　this　paper.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　maximum　secondary　emission　coefficient　of　this　material　can　be　high　to　3.84,　much　higher　than　that　of　rare　earth　oxide-molybdenum　cathode　made　by　traditional　sintering　method.　The　grain　size　is　less　than　1　mum　and　rare　earth　distributed　evenly　in　the　material.　After　the　material　was　activated　at　1600　degreesC,　a　4　mum　layer　of　rare　earth　oxide　which　leads　to　the　high　secondary　emission　coefficient　of　the　material,　is　formed　on　the　surface　of　the　cathode.　(C)　2004　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.