We report a simplified production method for single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by hot-filament assisted chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) using pure alcohol vapor (ethanol, methanol and 2-propanol) as a carbon source. Under the optimized conditions, high-purity SWNTs are synthesized for the first time in large quantities. Raman spectra of the synthesized SWNTs show similar G/D ratios and the peak distribution of radial breathing mode to those obtained by the conventional CVD method with an electric furnace. The efficiency of the SWNTs synthesis has been increased by the hot-filament-induced pyrolysis of carbon sources, which promises an easy scale-up of the production of SWNTs at a low cost. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.