Few-layer graphene (FLG) was catalytically formed on vertically aligned diamond nanorods (DNRs) by a high temperature annealing process. The presence of 4–5 layers of FLG on DNRs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopic studies. It enhances the field electron emission (FEE) behavior of the DNRs. The FLG-DNRs show excellent FEE characteristics with a low turn-on field of 4.21 V μm−1 and a large field enhancement factor of 3480. Moreover, using FLG-DNRs as cathode markedly enhances the plasma illumination behavior of a microplasma device, viz not only the plasma current density is increased, but also the robustness of the devices is improved. ; The authors like to thank the financial support of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) via Research Projects G.0456.12N and G.0905.12 N, and the Methusalem ‘NANO’ network. Kamatchi Jothiramalingam Sankaran and Paulius Pobedinskas are Postdoctoral Fellows of the Research FoundationFlanders (FWO). The Hercules Foundation Flanders is acknowledged for financial support of the Raman equipment. ; few-layer graphene; diamond nanorods; field electron emission; plasma illumination