Inkjet　printing,　a　fast,　simple,　efficient　graphical　deposition　technology,　is　first　applied　to　achieve　high-quality　emission　arrays.　Patterned　arrays　of　ZnO　nanorods　have　been　successfully　synthesized　via　hydrothermal　method　after　inkjet　printing　the　ZnO　seed　layer.　During　printing,　different　substrate　temperatures　were　found　to　affect　the　morphology,　microstructure　and　field　emission　(FE)　properties　of　ZnO　arrays.　The　results　showed　that　the　FE　performance　was　improved　when　the　coffee　ring　effect　was　eliminated　by　raising　the　substrate　temperature　due　to　higher　aspect　ratio　of　the　nanorods.　Both　the　compensating　flow　characteristics　inside　the　droplets　and　the　mechanism　of　regulating　the　rheological　behavior　of　the　solution　during　inkjet　printing　were　analyzed　to　inhibit　the　effect　of　coffee　ring,　which　played　an　important　role　in　the　later　patterning　electrode　construction　of　emission　arrays.　The　selective　growth　of　the　emitter　material　can　be　easily　realized　by　introducing　the　direct　patterning　technology　of　inkjet　printing　in　the　preparation　of　field　emission　electron　source.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd　and　Techna　Group　S.r.l.