In situ mass spectroscopic analysis was carried out to clarify the growth mechanism of single-walled carbon nanotube grown by alcohol catalytic chemical vapor deposition. When catalysts were used, pyrolysis could be accomplished at a temperature of 600 degrees C; without the use of catalysts, successful pyrolysis required a temperature of more than 800 degrees C. Ethylene and acetylene are important products for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes, and fusion of the metal catalyst is the cause of failure of synthesis at high temperatures. This fact indicates that the degradation and polymerization of ethanol are not the cause of the failure of synthesis. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.