Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a diameter range of 0.8-1.5 nm have been synthesized by using size-controlled Rh/Pd nanoparticles by catalyst-supported chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) at 1073 K. Nanoparticles of Rh/Pd with a diameter of similar to 3 nm have been prepared within a regular hexagonal arrayed one-dimensional channel of mesoporous silica, FSM-16. The SWNTs obtained by the CCVD using these catalysts have smaller diameter distribution compared to that of the catalyst nanoparticles, indicating that the diameter distribution of synthesized SWNTs has little relevance to the diameter of Rh/Pd catalyst nanoparticles. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.