Amorphous carbon-polyimide composite thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition for the first time. The lower turn-on field of 7 V/μm, which was less than that of the previously reported amorphous diamond film, was obtained from the composite films and the emission current density was 1. 2 mA/cm2 which could be comparable with that of the chemical vapor deposied diamond films. The locations of electron emission sites were observed using a transparent conducting anode techanique, and then the effect of the surface microstructure on electron emission could be futher understood. The composite films could be competent for cold emitters applied in flat panel displays.