The surface area of carbon electrodes in redox flowbatteries and fuel cells governs the rates of electrochemical reactions. Carbon cloth electrodes offer greater durability and serve as a potential substitute for conventional carbon paper electrodes. Growing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on carbon cloth electrodes is an effective way to increase the surface area and overall performance of these devices. In this study, electrodeposited cobalt nanoparticles were used as seed catalysts to synthesize MWCNTs onto carbon cloth through chemical vapor deposition. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed cobalt deposition and uniform MWCNT growth throughout the carbon cloth electrode. The MWCNT cloth, MWCNT paper, and plain carbon cloth were tested in a 3-electrode electrochemical arrangement and a hydrogen-vanadium reversible fuel cell to determine surface enhancement factors and fuel cell performances, respectively. The MWCNT cloth and MWCNT paper have 2-3 times the surface area of their respective conventional substrates. The hydrogen-vanadium reversible fuel cell with MWCNT carbon cloth electrode has a peak power performance of 0.61 W mg(-1) cm(-2), compared to 0.54 W mg(-1) cm(-2) for MWCNT carbon paper and 0.29 W mg(-1) cm(-2) for plain carbon cloth. (C) The Author(s) 2017. Published by ECS. All rights reserved.