The　field　emission　properties　of　tetrapod-like　zinc　oxide　(T-ZnO)　nanostructures　coated　with　Ag　nanowires　were　investigated.　Field　emission　device　based　on　T-ZnO/Ag　nanowires　hybrid　cathode　exhibited　lower　turn-on　electric　field,　larger　field　enhancement　factor　and　better　stability　as　compared　with　the　as-grown　T-ZnO　cathode.　The　results　showed　that　the　mechanical　and　electrical　conduction　between　the　T-ZnO　and　electrode　have　been　greatly　improved　mainly　owing　to　the　introduction　of　Ag　nanowires　into　T-ZnO　nanostructures,　and　further　the　field　emission　properties　of　T-ZnO/Ag　nanowires　hybrid　cathode　have　been　greatly　enhanced.　As　compared　with　the　pure　T-ZnO　cathode,　the　T-ZnO/Ag　nanowires　hybrid　is　proved　as　a　promising　cathode　candidate　for　field　emission　display.　©　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.