This　paper　describes　the　fabrication　of　a　backlight　unit　based　on　SnO　2　nanostructures　field　emitters.　SnO　2　nanowires　and　nanorods　were　synthesized　by　thermal　evaporation,　and　then　they　were　transferred　to　the　cathode　by　printing.　Field-emission　measurement　revealed　that　the　turn-on　field　of　as-synthesized　SnO　2　nanowires　and　nanorods　are　1.47　V/μm　and　1.88　V/μm,　respectively,　which　are　comparable　to　that　of　one-dimentional　nanomaterials.　The　emission　stability　at　turn　on　field　and　the　luminance　uniformity　measurements　demonstrate　that　SnO　2　nanowires　have　good　field　emission　performance　and　they　can　act　as　emitters　in　the　backlight　unit　in　liquid　crystal　display.　©　2012　Bentham　Science　Publishers.