Methods of forming a nano-supported catalyst on a substrate and at least one carbon nanotube on the substrate are comprised of configuring a substrate with an electrode (102), immersing the substrate with the electrode into a solvent containing a first metal salt and a second metal salt (104) and applying a bias voltage to the electrode such that a nano-supported catalyst is at least partly formed with the first metal salt and the second metal salt on the substrate at the electrode (106). In addition, the method of forming at least one carbon nanotube is comprised of conducting a chemical reaction process such as catalytic decomposition, pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition, or hot filament chemical vapor deposition o grow at least one nanotube on the surface of the nano-supported catalyst (108).