Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using heavy oil residue as carbon source. Different kinds of metals as catalysts including transition metals (Fe, Co and Ni) and nonmagnetic metals (Au and Pt) are used in the growth of SWNTs. The morphology and structure of the synthesized SWNTs products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. It was found that diameters of the as-grown SWNTs strongly depend on the type of catalysts. Compared with the case of nonmagnetic catalysts, SWNTs synthesized from transition metal catalysts have a narrow diameter distribution. Our findings indicate that oil residue is cheaper and suitable industrial carbon source for the SWNT growth with high quality. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.