In this paper, we proposed a new process for fabricating electrochemical double layer capacitors employing active carbon and multiwalled carbon nanotubes to adsorb Na+ and Cl- from NaCl solution. Due to their unique mesoporosity, active carbons have high ability to desalt NaCl solution. But they have many defects such as high electrical resistance, high-energy consumption and low intensity. Since carbon nanotube is a new material which has high intensity and low resistance, we can composite the merits of active carbon and carbon nanotube and develop carbon nanotube/active carbon materials combination electrode. It was tested that when carbon nanotube content in carbon materials is 10%, the characteristics of combination electrode is the best for us to desalt brackish water because of their high desalination characterization and low energy consumption. Though there are a few technical problems to be solved, our results show a promising technique for desalting salt water. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.