Nitrogenated　carbon　nanotips　(NCNTPs)　are　synthesized　by　plasma-enhanced　hot　filament　chemical　vapor　deposition　from　the　hydrogen,　methane,　and　nitrogen　gas　mixtures　with　different　flow　rate　ratios　of　hydrogen　to　nitrogen.　The　morphological,　structural,　compositional,　and　electron　field　emission　(EFE)　properties　of　the　NCNTPs　were　investigated　by　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy,　Raman　spectroscopy,　x　ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　and　EFE　high-vacuum　system.　It　is　shown　that　the　NCNTPs　deposited　at　an　intermediate　flow　rate　ratio　of　hydrogen　to　nitrogen　feature　the　best　size/shape　and　pattern　uniformity,　the　highest　nanotip　density,　the　highest　nitrogen　concentration,　as　well　as　the　best　electron　field　emission　performance.　Several　factors　that　come　into　play　along　with　the　nitrogen　incorporation,　such　as　the　combined　effect　of　the　plasma　sputtering　and　etching,　the　transition　of　sp(3)　carbon　clusters　to　sp(2)　carbon　clusters,　the　increase　of　the　size　of　the　sp(2)　clusters,　as　well　as　the　reduction　of　the　work　function,　have　been　examined　to　interpret　these　experimental　findings.　Our　results　are　highly　relevant　to　the　development　of　the　next　generation　electron　field　emitters,　flat　panel　displays,　atomic　force　microscope　probes,　and　several　other　advanced　applications.　(C)　2012　American　Institute　of　Physics.　[http:/dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3688252]