Zinc oxide is a low cost and practical II–VI chemical material, which is utilized to absorb silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) on zinc oxide nanosheets (ZnO NSs). Using the Ag NP-decorated ZnO NSs can improve the electrical characteristics of zinc oxide. Field electron emission characteristics of ZnO NSs and Ag–ZnO NSs indicate the turn-on fields were 5.3 and 3.2 V/μm in the dark, whereas the turn-on field were 4.3 and 2 V/μm under UV light, respectively. In addition, the field electron emission characteristics of ZnO NSs and Ag–ZnO NSs indicate the enhanced field enhancement factors were 3002 and 3420 in the dark and 3276 and 4815 under UV light, respectively.