ZnO　nanostructures　were　synthesised　on　nickel　metallic　wires　using　electrodeposited　method　in　a　mixed　solution　of　zinc　nitrate　[Zn(NO　3)2]　and　sodium　hydroxide　(NaOH).　Scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　and　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　were　used　for　characterisation.　The　XRD　patterns　revealed　the　formation　of　a　wurtzite　phase　of　ZnO　only.　The　SEM　images　showed　that　the　formation　of　ZnO　nanostructures　could　be　adjusted　by　increasing　the　electrolyte　concentration.　Field　emission　measurements　demonstrated　that　ZnO　nanopillars　with　befitting　density　exhibited　the　lowest　turn　on　field　and　the　highest　current　density.　The　ZnO　nanostructures　with　field　emission　performance　may　have　potentials　in　the　future　of　vacuum　electronic　devices.　©　2012　W.　S.　Maney　&　Son　Ltd.