provided by supplying pure components in the desired ratio or by alloying and combining them in the desired ratio or by combining them in several convenient mixtures or alloys that when fed to the plasma ball combine to form the desired composition of swnt forming atmosphere in a preferred embodiment an icp reactor capable of developing 0 2 u2013 5 kw cm 3 power density in plasma volume is used to vaporize carbon metal feed powder and produce swnts preferably the power density is in the range 1 u2013 3 kw cm 3 to ensure complete vaporization of carbon and metal powder particles in the plasma ball in a preferred embodiment the linear size of carbon powder particles is in the range 1 u03bcm 150 u03bcm more preferably carbon particles are of 1 u2013 5 u03bcm size that ensures more complete vaporization at a given plasma power density and residence time and or allows using lower power density and shorter residence time for the same reason it is expedient to use fine and ultrafine metal powders of the particle size 0 05 u2013 10 u03bcm and preferably 0 5 u2013 2 u03bcm in a preferred embodiment the feed rate of mixed carbon metal powder specified for 1 kw power developed in plasma is in the range 0 01 u00f7 0 1 g min kw at which rate complete vaporization of carbon is achieved depending on powder particle size and residence time of particles in the plasma zone in a preferred embodiment the plasma forming gas flux is in the range of 0 01 u2013 10 l min cm 2 preferably 0 1 u2013 0 5 l min.