Novel　field　emitters　with　α-Fe　2　O　3　nanorods/CNTs　composites　were　simply　prepared　by　dipping　the　iron　into　the　oxalic　acid　solution,　drop-coating　CNTs　to　the　iron　substrate　followed　by　in　situ　thermal　oxidation.　The　surface　morphology　of　the　products　has　been　characterized　by　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM).　And　further　the　composition　was　analyzed　by　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS)　and　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD).　The　results　of　SEM,　XRD　and　XPS　showed　that　CNTs　have　been　homogenously　dispersed　and　partly　wrapped　on　α-Fe　2　O　3　nanorods.　α-Fe　2　O　3　nanorods/CNTs　composites　had　exhibited　greatly　enhanced　field　emission　properties　with　low　turn-on　field　(about　1.211　V/μm),　and　high　field　enhancement　factor　of　8658.　Therefore,　the　α-Fe　2　O　3　nanorods/CNTs　composites　are　promising　field　emitters　for　field　emission　applications.　©　2013　Elsevier　B.V.