Various boron nitride (BN) and carbon (C) nanocage fullerene materials (clusters, metallofullerenes, onion, nanotubes and nanocapsules) were synthesized by arc-melting, electron-beam irradiation, chemical reaction, and self-organization. Atomic structures and structural stability of these materials were investigated by high-resolution electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics and molecular orbital calculations. Photoluminescence, magnetic and electronic properties of these fullerene materials were also investigated. The present work indicates that: the new BN and C nanocage fullerene materials with various atomic structures and properties can be produced by various synthesis methods, and a guideline for designing the BN and C fullerene materials is summarized. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.