Zinc　oxide　(ZnO)　nanorods　were　vertically　grown　on　the　surface　of　graphene　sheets　by　chemical　vapor　deposition,　and　their　use　in　a　field　emission　device　was　demonstrated.　In　comparison　with　pristine　graphene,　the　graphene/ZnO　nanorod　hybrid　structure　exhibited　efficient　field　emission　with　low　turn-on　field,　low　threshold　field,　high　emission　spot　density,　high　field　enhancement　factor　and　excellent　emitting　stability.　It　is　proposed　that　the　introduction　of　mid-density　ZnO　nanorods　on　the　surface　of　graphene　sheets　can　increase　the　number　of　emitters,　enhance　tunneling　probability,　and　lead　to　optimized　field　emission　for　the　hybrid　emitters.　The　results　showed　that　the　field　emission　properties　of　graphene　can　be　tailored　by　growing　various　ZnO　nanostructures　on　its　surface.　©　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.