We　have　developed　a　simple　and　effective　method　to　improve　field　emission　(FE)　performance　of　SnO2　nanowire　arrays　(SnO2　NWs)　decorated　with　low-cost　CNTs　and　conducting　Au　nanoparticles.　SnO2　NWs　was　grown　on　carbon　fibers　(CF)　using　Au-assisted　vapor　liquid　solid　method.　CNT　and　Au　nanoparticle　decoration　of　SnO2　NWs　was　obtained　by　subsequent　decoration　via　spray-coating　and　sputtering　deposition　process.　Compared　with　the　as-prepared　SnO2　and　CNT/SnO2,　Au/CNT/SnO2　composite　emitters　have　exhibited　predominant　FE　characteristics　with　low　turn-on　field　(0.72 V/μm),　high　field　enhancement　factor　(~5726),　and　good　stability.　The　FE　enhancement　was　attributed　to　highly　conducted　Au　nanoparticles　and　CNTs　with　sharp　tips　densely　distributed　on　the　surface　of　SnO2　NWs,　which　can　effectively　increase　emission　site　density,　favor　electron　transfer　and　quickly　transmit　heat　from　the　emitters　to　substrate.　Our　results　revealed　that　Au/CNT/SnO2　composite　with　excellent　FE　performance　grown　on　CF　can　provide　the　possibility　of　application　in　flexible　flat　panel　displays.　©　2016,　Springer　Science+Business　Media　New　York.