A method of liquid phase synthesis of carbon nanotubes in air comprising the steps of making a first liquid phase metal salt catalyst solution of a first predetermined volume; making a carbon source liquid phase solution of a second predetermined volume; ultrasonicating the first metal salt catalyst and the carbon source solutions to de-agglomerate and uniformly disperse their powder form into the solutions; depositing predetermined volumes of droplets of the first metal salt catalyst and the carbon source solutions onto a substrate; drying the first metal salt catalyst and the carbon source solutions on the substrate in an air environment for a predetermined time to form a carbon and catalyst composite; and heating the carbon and catalyst mixture in the air environment for a predetermined temperature and time to form one or more carbon nanotubes.