Carbon　nanotubes　(CNTs)　are　tubular　structures　composed　of　highly　graphitized　atoms.　Due　to　the　sp2　hybrid　electron　orbital　structure,　CNTs　possess　a　variety　of　unique　physical　and　chemical　properties,　such　as　high　mechanical　strength,　excellent　optical　anisotropy　and　good　electrical　conductivity.　Therefore,　CNTs　are　promising　advanced　materials　that　can　be　used　in　areas　of　material　strengthening,　energy　conversion　and　electronic　devices.　The　structures　and　properties　of　CNTs　can　be　tuned　by　regulating　the　growth　environment　of　CNTs.　Nevertheless,　the　growing　process　of　CNTs　is　very　complicated,　and　highly　depended　on　raw　material,　preparation　method　and　growth　environment,　which　consequently　determine　the　growth　rate,　microscopic　morphologies　and　final　properties　of　CNTs.　In　the　present　paper,　the　effects　of　fabrication　methods,　substrates,　catalysts,　and　growth　environment　on　the　microscopic　morphologies　and　properties　of　CNTs　were　reviewed,　and　the　growth　mechanisms　of　CNTs　are　discussed.　We　also　pay　attention　to　the　application　of　CNTs　in　the　areas　of　energy　storage,　material　toughening　and　catalytic　hydrogen　production.　The　present　deficiencies　and　future　development　directions　on　the　preparation　and　controlled　growth　of　CNTs　are　figured　out,　which　provides　guidance　for　the　controlled　growth　and　large-scale　preparation　of　CNTs.　©　2024　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.