Preparation of carbon nanotubes using lithium slag as a catalyst support

This study demonstrates a sustainable strategy for carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis through the repurposing of industrial lithium slag as a catalytic substrate. After acid treatment, the modified lithium slag carrier exhibits enhanced physicochemical properties, including reduced alkali metal content and optimized surface characteristics. The catalytic system enables efficient CNT growth through a precisely controlled CVD process using acetonitrile as the carbon source. Morphological characterization shows that the resulting CNTs have a predominant sub-100 nm diameter distribution with unique nitrogen-doped bamboo-like architectures. This methodology simultaneously addresses environmental challenges from lithium slag disposal and the growing demand for cost-effective CNT production.