Nitrogenated　carbon　nanotips　(NCNTPs)　have　been　synthesized　using　customized　plasma-enhanced　hot　filament　chemical　vapor　deposition.　The　morphological,　structural,　and　photoluminescent　properties　of　the　NCNTPs　are　investigated　using　scanning　and　transmission　electron　microscopy,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　Raman　spectroscopy,　and　photoluminescence　spectroscopy.　The　photoluminescence　measurements　show　that　the　NCNTPs　predominantly　emit　a　green　band　at　room　temperature　while　strong　blue　emission　is　generated　at　77　K.　It　is　shown　that　these　very　different　emission　behaviors　are　related　to　the　change　of　the　optical　band-gap　and　the　concentration　of　the　paramagnetic　defects　of　the　carbon　nanotips.　The　studies　shed　light　on　the　controversies　on　the　photoluminescence　mechanisms　of　carbon-based　amorphous　films　measured　at　different　temperatures.　The　relevance　of　the　results　to　the　use　of　nitrogenated　carbon　nanotips　in　light-emitting　optoelectronic　devices　is　discussed.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.