Surface-conducted　field　emission　electron　sources　using　ZnO　nanostructures　as　surface-conducted　emitters　have　been　successfully　fabricated,　where　the　linear　cathode　and　gate　electrodes　were　interdigitated　and　paralleled　on　the　same　plane　and　ZnO　emitters　with　different　morphologies　were　deposited　in　the　gap　between　the　cathode　and　gate　electrode.　Field　emission　investigations　indicate　that　the　turn-on　voltage　of　the　fabricated　SCFE　electron　sources　with　ZnO　nanorods,　ZnO　nanotubes,　and　ZnO　nanocones　modifies　from　260 V　to　220 V at　the　anode　voltage　of　2 kV.　The　emission　efficiency　of　SCFE　electron　source　with　ZnO　nanocones　is　as　large　as　43.6%,　which　is　much　higher　than　that　of　SCFE　electron　sources　with　ZnO　nanorods　and　nanotubes　at　the　gate　voltage　of　∼300 V.　The　whole　surface　emission　of　the　fabricated　electron　source　with　ZnO　nanocones　on　the　fluorescent　screen　is　more　homogeneous　than　that　of　the　electron　sources　with　ZnO　nanorods　and　nanotubes.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.