Simple, low-cost and environment-friendly catalysts for synthesizing carbon nanotubes were prepared by simply calcining the mixture of commercial transition metal oxide powders and porous or crystalline MgO at 950 degrees C. The commercial metal oxide powders, including Fe2O3, Co2O3, Ni2O3, Fe3O4 and Co3O4, were directly used without any pretreatment. Calcination of the MgO supported Fe2O3 catalysts results in the formation of MgFe2O4/MgO solid solution or the dissolution of metal into MgO lattices. High quality single- and double-walled carbon nanotubes were synthesized by thermal decomposition of methane, and were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The results bring forward an effective way to prepare the catalyst for synthesizing single- and double-walled carbon nanotubes. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.