Graphene　oxide　(GO)-coated　copper　oxide　(CuO)　nanowire　arrays　were　prepared　as　field　emission　cathodes　using　a　solution　process,　in　which　CuO　nanowires　were　grown　on　Cu　substrates　by　a　low-temperature　hydrothermal　process　and　the　covering　of　GO　sheets　was　carried　out　using　an　electrostatic　self-assembly　method.　The　field　emission　investigations　of　GO/CuO　cathode　showed　a　low　turn-on　field　of　3.7　V/μm　and　a　high　enhancement　factor　(2080)　compared　to　those　of　bare　CuO　nanowires.　Furthermore,　the　emission　current　was　stable　without　any　attenuation　during　the　testing.　The　GO/CuO　composite　nanostructures　are　promising　field　emission　cathodes　in　field　emission　application.　©　2015　American　Vacuum　Society.