Sn alloy nanowires encapsulated in carbon nanotubes (SnM (M = (Fe, Ni, and Cr) or Cu) @ CNTs) were prepared in situ by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, in which Sn came from a vaporized precursor while the alloy elements were supplied by the substrate. The heterostructures were grown on two types of substrates including stainless steel with high catalytic effectiveness and Cu substrates with low catalytic effectiveness for generating graphite layers, respectively. Pure Sn powder and C2H4 were employed to provide Sn and carbon precursors. The products were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) mapping. The morphology, structure and composition of the nanomaterials depended significantly on the surface conditions of the substrates. While SnCu alloy nanowires encapsulated in carbon nanotubes were grown on the Cu substrate, carbon nanotubes filled with alloy nanowires and porous carbon fibers decorated internally with alloy particles were observed on the stainless steel substrate. The growth mechanisms of the heterostructures were proposed. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.