Nitrogenated carbon nanotip arrays (NCNAs) with different structures were synthesized by plasma assisted hot filament chemical vapor deposition using methane, hydrogen and nitrogen as the reaction gases. The structural and compositional properties of NCNAs were studied using field emission electron scanning microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The photoluminescence (PL) of NCNAs with different structures was measured at room temperature using the excitation sources with the wavelengths of 325 nm. The PL results exhibit that the NCNAs generate both of the emission bands centered about 2.47 and 3.07 eV, but there are differences in the PL bands and intensities for the NCNAs with different structures. According to the growth conditions, the difference in the structures of NCNAs was studied. Combined the structures with the compositions of NCNAs, the generation of the differences in the PL bands and intensities of different NCNAs was investigated. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.