CNTs act as an excellent electrode, but it is difficult to deposit CNTs directly on the current collectors (for a battery or supercapacitor). This is because the growth of CNTs is a high-temperature process and a minimal interaction of the catalyst and substrate is essential in order to grow well-alighed CNTs. Hence, it is easier to grow them on oxide substrates. There are reports on the successful deposition of the CNTs on bulk metal like Inconel and stainless steel substrates. The growth of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes on a bulk metallic alloy was carried out using a vapor-phase catalyst delivery method.

It is also observed that there is a low contact resistance between the CNTs and Inconel. Lowering the contact resistance between the nanotubes and current collector electrodes in DLCs has been a major issue in developing CNT-based supercapacitors, and is tupically achieved by mixing nanotubes with conductive binders and coating collector electrodes with this composite. This process drastically modifies nanotube electrode properties, leading to adverse effects on the performance of the DLC.