The interface structure of poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK)-carbon fibre composite and the crystal texture of PEEK matrix have been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after the samples were properly etched by argon plasma. We find that most of the PEEK'S crystals are induced by nucleating carbon fibre and then they developed the transcrystalline or spherulite shape, depending on the crystallization conditions. Because the volume fraction of the carbon fibre is 60%, and the space distance between two adjacent carbon fibres is about 10 m–20 m, the crystal size of PEEK matrix is mainly controlled by the space distance between adjacent carbon fibres, and the crystallization temperature has little effect on it. The detail of the oriented crystal growth of the PEEK relative to carbon fibre was first observed by SEM. Our results show that the nucleation process of PEEK-carbon fibre composite is as follows: The first lamella is formed orientationally in the carbon fibre surface in the way that thea crystallographic direction is parallel to the radial direction of carbon fibre, theb direction parallel to the tangent line of cross section of carbon fibre, and thec direction parallel to the axis of the carbon fibre. Therefore, the crystals finally formed are oriented.