A simple but novel pyrolysis technique for the fabrication of nickel incorporated diamond-like carbon films with ring-like pattern was presented. Without using any template under ambient atmospheric pressure, nickel incorporated diamond-like carbon films exhibited some regular ring-like patterns on the films surface dependent on the nickel content to some extent, characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Compared with pure carbon films, nickel incorporation greatly enhanced carbon films graphitization. Besides the influence of the treatment temperature, the formation of the as-deposited films with ring-like patterns was also closely related to the synergy of the catalysis effect of nickel particles and the induction to reduce surface tension. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.