Abstract: Diamond-like-carbon（DLC）thin film was prepared by filtered arc deposition（FAD）with a good electron emission performance. A patterned DLC thin film cathode was fabricated by reactive-ion etching method and micro-fabrication technology. The electron emission performance of the patterned DLC thin film cathode is much better than the unpatterned ones. Field emission from DLC hole array was studied. Threshold field is as low as 2.1V/μm. At an electric field of 14.3V/μm, an emission current density as large as 1.23mA/cm² is achieved. On the base of fabrication of the patterned DLC thin film cathode,a kind of matrix-addressed diode FED prototype is designed and packaged.