Carbon nanotubes (CNT) were used as a catalyst support where catalytically active Pd and Pt metal particles decorated the outside of the external CNT walls. In this study, Pd and Pt nanoparticles supported on $HNO_3$-treated CNT were prepared by microwave-assisted heating of the polyol process using $PdCl_2$ and $H_2PtCl_6{codt}6H_2O$ precursors, respectively, and were then characterized by SEM, TEM, and Raman. Raman spectroscopy showed that the acid treated CNT had a higher intensity ratio of $I_D/I_G$ compared to that of non-treated CNT, indicating the formation of defects or functional groups on CNT after chemical oxidation. Microwave irradiation for total two minutes resulted in the formation of Pd and Pt nanoparticles on the acid treated CNT. The sizes of Pd and Pt nanoparticles were found to be less than 10 nm and 3 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the $SnO_2$ films doped with CNT decorated by Pd and Pt nanoparticles were prepared, and then the $NO_2$ gas response of these sensor films was evaluated under $1{sim}5;ppm$ $NO_2$ concentration at $200^{circ}C$. It was found that the sensing property of the $SnO_2$ film sensor on $NO_2$ gas was greatly improved by the addition of CNT-supported Pd and Pt nanoparticles.