The　addition　of　scandium　oxide　to　dispenser　cathodes　(namely　Scandate　cathodes),　which　are　typically　comprised　of　a　porous　tungsten　matrix　impregnated　with　Ba-Ca-aluminate,　improves　the　emission　by　a　factor　of　tens　to　hundreds　under　the　same　operating　temperature.　The　fabrication,　emission　property　and　emission　mechanism　of　Scandate　cathodes　have　been　reviewed.　Four　types　were　summarized　in　this　paper:　the　traditional　impregnated　Scandate　cathode,　＂top-layer＂　impregnated　Scandate　cathode,　impregnated　mixed　matrix　Scandate　cathode　and　pressed　Scandate　cathode.　It　was　found　that　decreasing　the　grain　size　from　micrometer　to　sub-micrometer　could　enhance　the　cathode　emission　performance.　Mixed　matrix　Scandate　cathode　prepared　with　scandium　oxide　doped　tungsten　powder　which　has　the　characteristic　of　superfine　Sc2O3　particles　dispersing　uniformly　over　and　among　sub-micrometer　W　grains,　might　be　the　main　type　of　Scandate　cathodes　in　the　future.　The　emission　models　for　explaining　the　conspicuous　emission　performance　were　summarized.　Although　the　operating　mechanism　of　Scandate　cathodes　is　still　unclear,　it　is　accepted　that　the　emission　is　correlated　with　a　surface　multilayer/monolayer　of　Ba-Sc-O.　The　layer　is　formed　after　proper　activation　by　diffusion　of　free　or　ionic　Sc　together　with　Ba　and　O　from　the　interior　of　the　cathode　to　its　surface.　The　correlation　between　the　emission　properties　of　scandate　cathodes　and　their　surface　features　has　been　established.　©　2011　Nova　Science　Publishers,　Inc.