In this paper, effect of two-dimensional photonic crystal surface pattern on the emission properties of the GaAs/AlGaAs based light emitting diode (LED) is demonstrated. For surface patterning of the LED, the interference lithography based on a double-exposure process by two-beam interference optical field was used. Prepared photonic crystal structure in the LED surfaces was analyzed by atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope. Emitting properties of the LEDs were investigated by L(I) measurements. Effect of large and short period of two-dimensional photonic structure on light extraction efficiency was documented. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.