Uniformly　distributed　and　quasi-aligned　cone-shaped　Sn02　nanorod　arrays　have　been　synthesized　by　a　conventional　thermal　evaporation　approach　on　a　common　stainless　steel　mesh　substrates　without　any　catalysts.　Field　emission　(FE)　measurements　show　that　its　turn-on　field　is　about　2.1　V/μm,　which　is　comparable　to　that　of　carbon　nanotubes,　and　the　fluctuation　of　FE　currents　is　as　small　as　5%　for　6　h.　The　low　turn-on　field　and　good　stability　indicate　that　it　is　a　promising　candidate　for　FE　application.　©　2008　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.