A crystalline flake graphite electrode (GE) was impregnated with nickel particles using direct current electrochemical deposition. The particles were used for in situ growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by flame synthesis with a liquid ethanol flame. The obtained electrode was characterized by X-ray diffraction, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the deposited Ni catalyst crystal face was mainly (1 1 1). CNTs with a diameter of about 40 nm were uniformly grown on the GE surface. The electrochemical performance of the CNT-GE was characterized by cyclic voltammetry using a [Fe(CN)6](3-)/[Fe(CN)6](4-) solution, and showed a much greater electrochemical response than that obtained using a material in which CNTs were grown by catalytic chemical vapor deposition. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.