Thin films of vertically aligned tungsten nanorods were used to enhance field ionization in pyroelectric crystal D-D fusion experiments resulting in increased neutron production. The tungsten nanorods were deposited on a single LiTaO(3) crystal using sputter deposition at glancing angles. The combination of a single tungsten tip with a thin film of nanorods on the face of the crystal yielded about four times the number of neutrons than did either a single tip or nanorods atone. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.