A method and apparatus for manufacture of carbon nanotubes, in which a substrate is contacted with a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock containing a catalytically effective metal to deposit the feedstock on the substrate, followed by oxidation of the deposited feedstock to remove hydrocarbonaceous and carbonaceous components from the substrate, while retaining the catalytically effective metal thereon, and contacting of the substrate having retained catalytically effective metal thereon with a carbon source material to grow carbon nanotubes on the substrate. The manufacture can be carried out with a petroleum feedstock such as an oil refining atmospheric tower residue, to produce carbon nanotubes in high volume at low cost. Also disclosed is a composite including porous material having single-walled carbon nanotubes in pores thereof.