Carbon　fibers　(CNFs)　were　surfacial　metallized　by　electroless　deposited　with　nickel,　and　their　field　emission　properties　were　investigated　by　diode　test.　The　results　indicated　that　the　CNFs　owned　better　field　emission　properties　after　electroless　depositing　nickel　for　30　min,　with　nickel　metal　thickness　as　3.25　μm　and　the　volume　resistivity　down　to　1.35×10-4　Ω·cm.　The　morphology　and　composite　of　Ni-coated　CNFs　were　characterized　by　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM)　and　X-ray　diffractions　(XRD),　respectively.　The　results　indicated　Ni-coated　CNFs　were　amorphous　and　had　better　surface.　The　field　emission　tests　showed　when　applied　voltage　was　832V,　Ni-coated　CNFs　appeared　bright　dots,　and　the　high　luminance　achieved　988cd/m2　under　applied　voltage　1456V.　©　(2012)　Trans　Tech　Publications.