Carbon nanotubes are formed on carbon paper by first depositing a metal
catalyst on the carbon paper, and passing a feedstock gas containing a
source of carbon over the substrate while applying an electrical current
thereto to heat the substrate sufficiently to generate a reaction between
the catalyst and the feedstock gas. Alternatively, inert gas under
pressure is passed through a tubular metal cathode while passing an
electric current through the cathode to produce a plasma of fine catalyst
particles which are deposited on a porous carbon substrate, and a
feedstock gas containing a source of carbon is passed over the substrate
to cause a reaction between the catalyst and the carbon source resulting
in the formation of carbon nanotubes.