A　planar-gate　surface-conduction　electron　source　with　ZnO　nanorods　has　been　successfully　fabricated,　where　ZnO　nanorods　deposited　on　the　cathode　are　used　as　field　emission　emitters　and　ZnO　nanorods　deposited　in　the　gap　between　cathode　and　gate　electrode　(C-G　gap)　are　used　as　surface-conduction　emitters.　Field　emission　investigations　indicate　that　the　turn-on　voltage　at　emission　current　of　10　μA　is　approximately　85　V.　The　emission　current　and　conduction　current　reach　to　520　V　and　450　V　at　the　gate　voltage　and　anode　voltage　of　140　V　and　2000　V,　respectively.　High　electron　emission　efficiency　(56.2%)　is　obtained　at　low　gate　voltage　of　140　V.　The　maximum　brightness　can　reach　1200　cd/m2　and　the　emission　current　fluctuation　is　smaller　than　5%　for　6　h.　These　results　indicate　that　the　electron　source　based　on　the　planar-gate　surface-conduction　triode　with　ZnO　emitters　has　efficient　field　emission　characteristics.　©　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.