The　adsorption　of　methanol　on　the　perfect　and　defective　single-walled　carbon　nanotubes　(SWCNTs)　has　been　investigated　using　effective　cluster　models　in　conjunction　with　density　functional　theory.　It　has　been　found　that　methanol　is　adsorbed　very　weakly　on　the　sidewall　of　perfect　SWCNT,　which　is　in　agreement　with　experiment　observation.　In　contrast,　it　is　quite　interesting　to　find　that　methanol　is　not　only　strongly　chemisorbed　at　the　zigzag　edge　site　of　defective　SWCNT,　but　also　the　O-H　bond　of　methanol　is　completely　dissociated.　This　suggests　that　the　zigzag　edge　of　SWCNT　can　be　the　active　site　for　adsorption　and　activation　of　methanol.　However,　the　adsorption　of　methanol　at　the　armchair　edge　of　SWCNT　is　rather　weak,　hence　suggesting　the　crucial　effect　of　local　edge　carbon　atoms　arrangement　on　the　adsorption　behavior　of　methanol　on　carbon　nanotubes.　©　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.