The catalytic effect of nickel is addressed to decorate the multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the purpose of hydrogen storage. The hydrogen sorption/desorption are investigated using the volumetric technique. Nickel nanoparticles are distributed on the surface of nanotubes using the laser ablation/chemical reduction treatments. The hydrogen uptake is elevated at higher nickel population up to a certain value and then experiences a significant drop for larger nickel content. The laser treatment is accompanied by the induced pores around nanotubes. This gives rise to the creation of the larger pores at higher laser doses leading to decrease the hydrogen trapping. Despite the pore size distribution strongly alters during both synthesis methods, however the abundance of small pore size in laser treatments is relatively higher than the that of the other technique. In comparison, the laser ablation demonstrates a relatively smaller desorption temperature against chemical one, mainly owing to the formation of larger pore size/volume. Generally, the hydrogen trapping efficiently takes place in the laser treated samples against chemical reduction method. The highest value of hydrogen storage -1% (0.6% weight) is corresponding to 12.3% (13% weight) of nickel loading via the laser ablation (chemical reduction). (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.