We systematically studied the support materials for chemical vapor deposition of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Four support materials with iron catalysts were investigated: silicon dioxide, aluminum film, boehmite, and gamma-alumina. The boehmite and the gamma-alumina were progressively converted from evaporated aluminum film. The iron catalysts on the aluminum film, the boehmite, and the gamma-alumina produced a good SWNT yield in the growth temperature range of 650-800 degreesC, while the catalysts on silicon dioxide produced a poor SWNT yield. The X-ray diffraction patterns suggested that the catalyst particle sizes were kept small on these aluminum-based support materials. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.