The diode field emission display (FED) has high driving voltage, which brings trouble to driving circuit. In order to solve this problem, we design normal grid triode structure tetrapod-like nano-ZnO FED. The field emission property is investigated. The results show that the structure is feasible. With abrasive blasting and lithographic technology, grid apertures of the normal grid structure have been created, and low voltage control is achieved. The grid voltage, the gate apertures size and the thickness of medium layer parameters which influence the performance of triode FED have been analyzed. The experimental results show that normal gate triode-structure tetrapod-like nano-ZnO FED has well electron emission performance and it is also a potential field emission display.