The　ZnO　nano-rods/carbon　nano-tubes　(CNTs)　composite　was　synthesized　by　spray-coating　of　CNTs　on　ZnO　nano-rods　array,　pre-deposited　in　hydrothermal　method　on　the　glass　substrate　coated　with　indium　tin　oxides　(ITO)　films.　The　influence　of　the　synthesis　conditions　on　the　microstructures　and　field　emission　properties　was　investigated.　The　composite　was　characterized　with　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM).　We　found　that　the　uniformly　distributed　ZnO　nano-rods,　500　nm　in　diameter,　stand　vertically,　whereas　the　CNTs　lie　flat　on　the　substrates.　Uniformly　wrapping　the　tips　of　ZnO　nano-rods　with　the　homogenously　dispersed　CNTs　significantly　improved　the　field　emission　characteristics　of　the　ZnO　arrays.　For　instance,　its　onset　field　and　field　enhancement　factor　increased　up　to　0.96　V/μm　and　9881,　respectively.　Possible　mechanisms　responsible　for　the　property　enhancement　were　also　tentatively　discussed.　©,　2015,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.