Nanoscale-sized carbon nitride-related materials exhibit a wealth of interesting structural, electronic, and optical property behaviors. Chemical vapor deposition technology allows almost unlimited freedom to produce films with compositions and structures approaching the nanometer scale among light elements. Aligned polymerized carbon nitride (CN) nanobells have been grown on a large scale and provide excellent field electron emission properties, as described by a side-emission mechanism. Separation of single CN nanobells and fabrication of heterojunctions between CN nanobells and pure carbon nanotubes have been achieved. Boron carbonitride (BCN) nanofibers with controlled orientation and composition have been synthesized; these nanofibers show strong blue-violet photoluminescense at room temperature. Recent progress also has been made on nitrogen-containing diamond, CN, and BCN films. The purpose of this paper is to survey the work that has been conducted and to detail the level of understanding that has been attained in the research on nitride-related materials. Nanoscale-sized carbon nitride- related materials exhibit a wealth of interesting structural, electronic, and optical property behaviors. Chemical vapor deposition technology allows almost unlimited freedom to produce films with compositions and structures approaching the nanometer scale among light elements. Aligned polymerized carbon nitride (CN) nanobells have been grown on a large scale and provide excellent field electron emission properties, as described by a side-emission mechanism. Separation of single CN nanobells and fabrication of heterojunctions between CN nanobells and pure carbon nanotubes have been achieved. Boron carbonitride (BCN) nanofibers with controlled orientation and composition have been synthesized; these nanofibers show strong blue-violet photoluminescense at room temperature. Recent progress also has been made on nitrogen-containing diamond, CN, and BCN films. The purpose of this paper is to survey the work that has been conducted and to detail the level of understanding that has been attained in the research on nitride-related materials. Nanoscale-sized carbon nitride- related materials exhibit a wealth of interesting structural, electronic, and optical property behaviors. Chemical vapor deposition technology allows almost unlimited freedom to produce films with compositions and structures approaching the nanometer scale among light elements. Aligned polymerized carbon nitride (CN) nanobells have been grown on a large scale and provide excellent field electron emission properties, as described by a side-emission mechanism. Separation of single CN nanobells and fabrication of heterojunctions between CN nanobells and pure carbon nanotubes have been achieved. Boron carbonitride (BCN) nanofibers with controlled orientation and composition have been synthesized; these nanofibers show strong blue-violet photoluminescense at room temperature. Recent progress also has been made on nitrogen-containing diamond, CN, and BCN films. The purpose of this paper is to survey the work that has been conducted and to detail the level of understanding that has been attained in the research on nitride-related materials.