In　this　paper,　the　highly　oriented　ZnO/ZrN　nanoneedle　emitters　with　excellent　field　emission　performance　were　fabricated　by　sputtering　ZrN　particles　with　different　N2　flux　to　modify　ZnO　nanoneedle　arrays.　The　effects　of　different　N2　flow　on　the　microscopic　morphology,　structure　and　field　emission　properties　of　ZnO　nanoneedles　were　investigated.　The　results　shows　that　the　ZnO/ZrN　nanoneedles　(ZnO/ZrN-1.6)　emitter　prepared　when　the　flow　of　N2　gas　is　1.6　SCCM　exhibits　the　best　field　emission　performance,　with　the　lowest　turn-on　electric　field　Eto　at　0.81　V/μm,　and　a　field　emission　current　density　of　25　mA/cm2　which　was　25　times　of　pure　ZnO.　In　addition　to　the　improvement　of　band　structure,　the　improvement　of　field　emission　performance　can　also　be　attributed　to　the　tunneling　effect　of　electrons　through　heterostructure.　This　well-aligned　ZnO/ZrN　core-shell　cathode　with　excellent　emission　characteristics　grown　on　carbon　cloth　substrate　has　the　potential　applications　in　future　flexible　light　source　devices.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd