High-quality　ZnO　tetrapods　with　different　morphologies　were　synthesized　via　thermal　evaporation　of　a　surface-modified　Zn　powder　in　an　oxygen/argon　mixed　gas.　The　morphology,　including　the　size　and　shape　of　the　individual　legs　of　ZnO　tetrapods,　was,　easily　altered　by　adjusting　the　proportion　of　oxygen　in　the　carrier　gas　and　the　reaction　temperature　of　the　furnace.　A　correlation　between　the　experimental　parameters　and　the　product　morphologies　was　proposed　and　discussed.　Moreover,　the　influence　of　the　deposition　time　on　the　field　emission　(FE)　characteristics　of　ZnO-tetrapod　cathodes　fabricated　by　the　electrophoretic　deposition　(EPD)　method　was　investigated.　The　results　show　that　ZnO-tetrapod　cathodes　grown　for　15　min　have　the　best　field　emission　properties,　with　a　turn-on　field　of　2.01　V/μm,　a　threshold　field　of　∼3.8　V/μm,　a　current　density　of　1.96　mA/cm2　at　a　field　of　∼4.62　V/μm,　and　a　field　enhancement　factor　as　high　as　1.1×104.　The　low　threshold　field　and　marked　enhancement　in　β　were　attributed　to　the　small　radius　of　curvature,　the　high　aspect　ratio,　and,　perhaps　more　importantly,　the　proper　density　distribution　of　ZnO　tetrapods.　©　2013　Elsevier　Ltd　and　Techna　Group　S.r.l.