A flexible cold cathode based on a uniform array of ZnO nanowires over carbonfabrics was designed via a simple wet chemical route. The structural parameters ofthe nanowires (i.e. length, diameter) as well as their arrangement over thecarbon fibers were tailored by adjusting nutrient solution composition andgrowth duration. The optimized arrays of ZnO nanowires exhibit excellentelectron emission performance with ultralow turn-on as well as threshold fields of0.27 and0.56 V µm − 1. This threshold field value is the lowest compared to any of the previouszinc-oxide-based cold cathodes realized through either chemical or vapor phaseprocesses. In addition, the current density can reach an exceptionally high value of ∼ 11 mA cm − 2 at an appliedelectric field of only 0.8 V µm − 1. Flexible electronic devices based on a field emitter cold cathode may thus berealized through chemical processing at low budget but having high efficiency.