A flat panel display contains a faceplate structure (174 or 350), a backplate structure (175 or 351), and a spacer (140, 340, 0r 341). A light-emitting structure (171 or 306) is located along a faceplate (170 or 302) in the faceplate structure. An electron-emitting structure (172 or 305) is located along a backplate (173 or 303) in the backplate structure. The spacer is situated between the light-emitting and electron-emitting structures. Transition metal oxide or transition metal in oxide state is present in a ceramic core (401, 501, 0r 601) or/and a resistive skin (402, 403, 502, 503, 602, or 603) of the spacer.