Carbon　nanotip　arrays　were　grown　from　carbon　films　deposited　on　silicon　substrates　by　plasma-enhanced　hot　filament　chemical　vapor　deposition.　The　carbon　films　were　characterized　by　the　atomic　force　microscopy　and　micro-Raman　spectrometry　and　the　carbon　nanotip　arrays　were　investigated　by　micro-Raman　spectrometry,　scanning　electron　microscopy　and　X-ray　photon　spectroscopy.　The　results　indicate　that　both　carbon　films　and　carbon　nanotips　are　made　of　polyaromatic　carbon　with　turbostratic　structure.　Carbon　films　possess　various　roughnesses,　which　greatly　influence　the　nanotip,　growth　rate.　The　theory　related　to　plasma　and　sputtering　effect　is　used　to　discuss　the　results.　(c)　2006　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.