In　situ　growth　of　ZnO　quantum　dots　(QDs)　on　the　surface　of　multiwalled　carbon　nanotube　(MWCNTs)　was　realized　via　a　mild　solution-process　method,　and　their　application　in　field　emission　device　was　demonstrated.　High　resolution　transmission　electron　microscopy　observation　revealed　the　conjugation　between　ZnO　QDs　and　MWCNTs.　Field　emission　arrays　based　on　ZnO　QD/MWCNT　hybrid　nanocomposite　exhibited　significantly　improved　luminance　intensity　and　emitting　dot　density　when　compared　with　the　MWCNT-only　arrays.　It　is　proposed　that　the　introduction　of　the　ZnO　QDs　on　the　sidewall　of　MWCNTs　can　enhance　the　tunnelling　probability,　and　result　in　the　improved　field　emission　property　for　the　hybrid　emitters.　©　2010　Elsevier　B.V.