Efficient　field　emitters　of　ZnO　nanorods　(NRs)　after　decorating　of　Cu-doped　ZnO　quantum　dots　(CZ　QDs),　by　a　facile　hydrothermal　method　were　reported.　A　layer　with　very　tiny　ZnO　QDs　was　achieved　along　the　axial　direction　throughout　the　whole　ZnO　nanorods.　It＇s　found　that　CZ　QDs-modified　ZnO　NRs　showed　the　best　FE　performance,　comparing　with　eithor　traditional　ZnO　NR　emitters　or　the　sample　modified　by　pure　ZnO　QDs.　By　combining　ZnO　QDs　and　NRs　utilizing　surface　modification　engineering,　a　rough　surface　and　a　relatively　sharp　top　of　ZnO　NR　can　be　achieved,　resulting　in　a　significant　improvement　of　FE　characteristics.　The　enhancement　may　also　be　attributed　to　Cu-doping　in　ZnO　QDs,　which　introduced　more　defects　and　free　electrons　in　the　conduction　band　of　ZnO　and　also　reduced　the　band　gap.　To　shed　light　on　the　effects　of　Cu　dopant,　the　morphology,　microstructure　and　optical　properties　of　ZnO　QDs　were　further　investigated　in　detail.　The　application　of　CZ　QDs　in　FE　materials　may　be　expected　to　fabricate　various　FE　devices　by　appropriate　doping.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.