High-quality, uniform one-dimensional Cds micro/nanostructures with different morphologies-microrods, sub-microwires and nanotips-are fabricated through an easy and effective thermal evaporation process. Their structural, cathodoluminescence and field-emission properties are systematically investigated. Microrods and nanotips exhibit sharp near-band-edge emission and broad deep-level emission, whereas sub-microwires show only the deep-level emission. A significant decrease in a deep-level/near-band-edge intensity ratio is observed along a tapered nanotip towards a smaller diameter part. This behaviour is understood by consideration of defect concentrations in the nanotips, as analyzed with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Field-emission measurements show that the nanotips possess the best field-emission characteristics among all 1D Cds nanostructures reported to date, with a relatively low turn-on field of 5.28 V mu m(-1) and the highest field-enhancement factor of 48.19. The field-enhancement factor, turn-on and threshold fields are discussed related to structure morphology and vacuum gap variations under emission.