This　paper　describes　the　fabrication　of　a　backlight　unit　based　on　SnO2　nanostructures　field　emitters.　SnO2　nanowires　and　nanorods　were　synthesized　by　thermal　evaporation,　and　then　they　were　transferred　to　the　cathode　by　printing.　Field-emission　measurement　revealed　that　the　turn-on　field　of　as-synthesized　SnO2　nanowires　and　nanorods　are　1.47　V/μm　and　1.88　V/μm,　respectively,　which　are　comparable　to　that　of　one-dimentional　nanomaterials.　The　emission　stability　at　turn　on　field　and　the　luminance　uniformity　measurements　demonstrate　that　SnO2　nanowires　have　good　field　emission　performance　and　they　can　act　as　emitters　in　the　backlight　unit　in　liquid　crystal　display.　©　2012　Bentham　Science　Publishers.