A light emitting diode includes a patterned carbon nanotube layer, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, an active layer stacked on an epitaxial growth surface of a substrate in that sequence. A first portion of the patterned carbon nanotube layer is covered by the first semiconductor layer and a second portion of the patterned carbon nanotube layer is exposed. A first electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer. A second electrode electrically is electrically connected with the second portion of the patterned carbon nanotube layer.