Tetrapod-like　ZnO　(T-ZnO)　powders　synthesized　via　chemical　vapor　deposition　(CVD)　were　transferred　to　ITO　substrates　coated　with　silver　paste,　followed　by　nickel　coating　through　electroless　plating,　to　fabricate　the　novel　T-ZnO/Ni　cathodes.　The　morphologies　of　T-ZnO　powder,　T-ZnO　cathodes　and　T-ZnO/Ni　cathodes　were　investigated　by　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM).　The　composition　and　structure　of　T-ZnO/Ni　cathodes　were　characterized　by　X-ray　energy　dispersive　spectroscopy　(EDS)　and　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　respectively.　The　results　indicate　that　disordered　microcrystal　nickel　was　deposited　on　the　surface　of　T-ZnO/Ni　cathode　after　electroless　nickel-plating　on　T-ZnO　cathode.　The　turn-on　field　of　T-ZnO/Ni　cathode　was　reduced　to　1.60　V/μm　and　the　field　enhancement　factor　was　enhanced　to　7　190.　©　2016,　Editorial　Office　of　Nanotechnology　and　Precision　Engineering.　All　right　reserved.