Electron emission sites of p-i-n diode-type electron emitters with a negative electron affinity (NEA) were investigated. Using a mesa with n + -layer top structures, emission current was found to be proportional to the periphery length of a comb-shaped mesa, where only n + -and i-layers were etched. In addition, when the gap between fingers of the comb-shaped mesa was too small, the emission current was clearly suppressed. These indicate that it is reasonable to consider that the i-layer is the main emission site in this device. Our present results provide directions for the future design of p-i-n diode-type NEA electron emitters.