Carbon nanotube wools made directly from CO2 by molten electrolysis: Value driven pathways to carbon dioxide greenhouse gas mitigation

Abstract

A climate mitigation comprehensive solution is presented through the first high yield, low energy synthesis of macroscopic length carbon nanotube (“CNT”) wool from CO2 by molten carbonate electrolysis. The CNT wool is of length suitable for weaving into carbon composites and textiles. Growing CO2 concentrations, and the concurrent climate change and species extinction, can be addressed if CO2 becomes a sought resource rather than a greenhouse pollutant. Inexpensive carbon composites formed from carbon wool as a lighter metal, textiles or cement replacement comprise major market sinks to compactly store transformed anthropogenic CO2. 100×-longer CNTs grow on Monel versus steel. Monel, electrolyte equilibration, and a mixed metal nucleation facilitate the synthesis. CO2, the sole reactant in this transformation, is directly extractable from dilute (atmospheric) or concentrated sources, and the analyzed production cost of $660 per ton CNT is cost constrained only by the (low) cost of electricity. Today's market valuation of >$100,000 per ton CNT incentivizes CO2 removal.