In　this　study,　rhenium-tungstenmixed　particles　with　different　content　of　rhenium　have　been　prepared　by　spray-drying　method　followed　by　hydrogen　reduction.　Using　such　particles,　the　cathodes　have　been　prepared　by　powder　metallurgy　followed　by　impregnating　BaO,　CaO,　and　Al2O3　with　4:　1:　1　molar　ratio.　After　proper　activation,　electron　emission　test　is　performed　in　standard　parallel-plate　diode　configuration.　The　emission　results　reveal　that　the　Re-W　matrix　cathode　containing　75%　rhenium　has　the　highest　direct　current　emission　density　of　11.67　A/cm(2)　at　1000　degrees　C.　The　work　function　of　Re-W　matrices　has　been　investigated　by　density　functional　theory　method　in　the　frame　of　the　generalized　gradient　approximation　(GGA).　The　theoretical　calculation　results　indicate　that　the　work　function　of　the　matrix　has　limited　contribution　to　the　emission　current　density　of　Re-W　matrix　dispenser　cathode.　The　in　situ　AES,　SEM,　and　XRD　were　applied　and　the　results　reveal　that　the　superior　emission　property　of　the　75Re　cathode　is　owing　to　a　plenty　of　nanoparticles　and　higher　free　barium　concentration　on　the　cathode　surface,　which　is　attributed　to　the　Re3W　single　phase　in　75Re　matrix.