Nitrogenated　carbon　nanotips　(NCNTPs)　with　different　structures　were　synthesized　by　plasma-enhanced　hot　filament　chemical　vapor　deposition　using　methane,　hydrogen　and　nitrogen　as　the　reactive　gases.　The　structures　and　compositions　of　the　NCNTPs　were　studied　by　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FESEM),　micro-Raman　spectroscopy.　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　The　XPS　spectra　reveal　that　nitrogen　is　incorporated　into　the　carbon　nanotips　to　form　the　NCNTPs　under　plasma　condition.　The　Raman　spectra　and　FESEM　images　show　that　the　NCNTPs　are　amorphous　structure　and　their　morphologies　change　with　the　change　in　deposition　conditions,　respectively.　The　electron　field　emission　(EFE)　from　the　NCNTPs　was　measured　and　the　EFE　results　indicate　that　the　NCNTPs　with　the　smooth　surfaces　and　high　density　can　emit　a　current　density　of　3　x　10(3)　mu　A/cm(2)　at　an　electric　field　of　7.2　V/mu　m,　which　exhibits　better　EFE　characteristic　than　the　NCNTPs　with　the　carbon　nanowires　on　their　surfaces　due　to　small　amount　of　oxygen　adsorbed　on　the　smooth　surfaces　of　NCNTPs.　According　to　the　possible　structures　of　nitrogen　in　sp(2)　cluster　in　rings,　the　EFE　enhancement　of　the　NCNTPs　compared　with　pure　carbon　nanotips　was　studied.　The　high　emission　current　density　(3　x　10(3)　mu　A/cm(2))　at　low　field　(7.2　V/mu　m)　suggests　that　the　NCNTPs　can　serve　as　effective　electron　emission　sources　for　numerous　applications.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.