Carbon　nanotubes　(CNT)　decorated　with　Ni　and　Ag　performed　by　electroless　plating,　and　the　effect　of　Ni　and　Ag　nanoparticles　and　coating　distribution　on　field　emission　of　CNT　are　studied.　The　chemical　composition,　microstructure　of　CNT/Ni　and　CNT/Ag　nanocomposites　are　characterized　by　an　energy　dispersion　X-ray　spectroscope　(EDS),　a　transmission　electron　microscope　and　a　scanning　electron　microscope.　The　field　emission　properties　of　CNT/Ni　and　CNT/Ag　cathodes　are　measured　using　a　diode　structure　under　a　pressure　of　10-5　Pa.　The　experimental　results　show　that　fine　and　well-dispersed　metallic　nanoparticles　and　discontinuous　coating　of　Ni　and　Ag　on　the　CNT　surface　can　be　obtained　by　electroless　plating.　Moreover,　the　enhanced　field　emission　properties　of　CNT　decorated　with　Ni　and　Ag　can　be　obtained　by　lowering　the　work　function　of　emitters　and　reducing　the　contact　resistance　between　cathode　and　substrate.　The　field　enhancement　factors　as　high　as　24264　of　CNT/Ni　and　25565　of　CNT/Ag　emitters　can　be　improved　by　the　distributed　nano-sized　Ni　and　Ag　formed　on　the　CNT　surface.　©　2012　Springer　Science+Business　Media　New　York.