Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), owing to their large specific area, good chemical stability and modifiable surface properties after acidic or basic treatment, can be used as catalytic support materials. In this paper, the activities and selectivities of two catalysts, i. e. Ni catalyst supported by carbon nanotubes (Ni/CNTs) and that supported by diatomite (Ni/SiO2), are compared. It is found that the quality of the carbon nanotubes synthesized by the two catalysts is similar, but the yield of the former is 1.5 times higher than that of the latter. The excellent performance of the Ni/CNTs catalyst should be ascribed to the larger specific surface area and proper pore distribution and the structure of the carbon nanotube support. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), owing to their large specific area, good chemical stability and modifiable surface properties after acidic or basic treatment, can be used as catalytic support materials. In this paper, the activities and selectivities of two catalysts, ie Ni catalyst supported by carbon nanotubes (Ni / CNTs) and that supported by diatomite (Ni / SiO2), are compared. It is found that the quality of the carbon nanotubes synthesized by the two catalysts is similar, but the yield of the former is 1.5 times higher than that of the latter. The excellent performance of the Ni / CNTs catalyst should becribed to the larger specific surface area and proper pore distribution and the structure of the carbon nanotube support.