A 2.2-kJ compact plasma focus device was developed and its characteristics of neutron emission were investigated. A maximum neutron yield of (3.1±1.5)×107 was obtained at 15 hPa deuterium filling pressure. It was found that the neutron yieldY n is strongly correlated with the amplitude of the pinch dip in di/dt waveform. The time resolved measurement of the neutron pulse indicated that both the hardX-rays and the neutrons are emitted from plasma focus at the same instant and the width of neutron pulse (FWHM) changes slightly from 50 to 53 ns. The pinch timet p varies from 1.5 to 16.5 ns and it is usually the case that the shortert p, the higher the neutron yield. It was also found that the squirrel cage cathode is better than the tubular cathode.