The　field　emission　(FE)　electron　source　has　a　wide　range　of　application　in　the　field　of　vacuum　electronics,　and　the　patterning　of　cathode　emitters　is　one　of　the　key　technology.　In　this　paper,　a　new　idea　of　cathode　structure　to　achieve　good　luminescence　uniformity　with　the　smallest　emitter　areas　is　proposed.　First,　the　inkjet　printing　is　applied　to　precisely　position　the　patterned　layer,　and　the　branched　ZnO　arrays　are　grown　by　electrochemical　deposition.　Then　the　effect　of　array　spacings　on　field　emission　performance　is　studied.　The　results　show　that　with　the　increase　of　the　array　spacing,　the　FE　performance　first　increases　and　then　decreases,　among　which　the　arrays　with　the　moderate　spacing　have　the　best　FE　properties,　including　the　lowest　turn-on　field　(Eon)　of　∼0.46　V　μm−1　and　the　most　uniform　luminescence.　Finite　element　calculations　using　the　ANSYS　software　were　performed.　Simulations　are　carried　out　to　analyze　the　surface　electric　field　distribution　and　electron　movement　trajectory,　indicating　the　moderate　array　spacing　is　beneficial　for　FE　due　to　the　balance　of　the　field　superposition　effect　and　shielding　effect.　The　efficiency　of　pattern　design　helps　to　realize　the　high-performance　field　emission　electron　source,　which　is　of　great　significance　for　flexible　manufacturing　and　large-scale　integration.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd