The　effect　of　magnetic　field　assisted　heat-treatment　on　the　field　emission　properties　of　metalized　multi-walled　carbon　nanotubes　(MWNTs)　is　investigated.　The　metalized　MWNTs　are　prepared　via　an　electroless　plating　method,　and　then　the　MWNTs/Ni　cathodes　are　fabricated　by　screen　printing.　The　morphology　and　composition　of　MWNTs/Ni　were　studied　by　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　energy　dispersive　X-ray　detector,　and　the　difference　between　MWNTs/Ni　cathodes　heat-treated　with　or　without　magnetic　field　was　observed　by　scanning　electron　microscopy.　The　force　of　a　single　MWNT　coated　with　Ni　was　simulated,　and　the　results　demonstrate　that　the　magnetic　field　force　could　induce　the　rotation　of　MWNTs/Ni　during　magnetic　field　assisted　heat-treatment.　The　field　emission　characteristics　show　that　the　MWNTs/Ni　cathodes　heat-treated　with　magnetic　field　has　a　low　turn-on　field　of　0.80　V·μm-1　and　high　field　enhancement　factor　of　16068,　which　are　attributed　to　the　embossment　of　MWNTs/Ni　from　substrates　under　the　magnetic　field.　©　2014　Chinese　Physical　Society.