ZnO　quantum　dots　(QDs)　have　been　successfully　synthesized　by　sol-gel　method　using　Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O　and　LiOH·H2O.　The　as-prepared　ZnO　QDs　were　annealed　at　different　temperatures.　The　effects　of　different　temperatures　on　the　morphology,　microstructure,　optical　and　field　emission　properties　are　investigated.　The　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　photoluminescence　(PL),　UV-Vis　spectroscopy　and　field　emission　(FE)　curves.　The　results　indicate　that　ZnO　QDs　have　hexagonal　wurtzite　structure.　As　the　annealing　temperature　increased,　the　particle　size　of　ZnO　QDs　increased　and　the　optical　band　gap　decreased,　thus　the　optical　properties　were　tailored　and　the　field　emission　properties　were　enhanced.　©　2015,　Chongqing　Functional　Materials　Periodical　Press　Co.　Ltd.　All　right　reserved.