Electrolysis methods that utilize carbon dioxide and a non-iron additive for making desired nanocarbon allotropes

Abstract

A method for producing a carbon nanomaterial product comprising: heating an electrolyte media to obtain a molten electrolyte media; positioning the molten electrolyte media between an anode and a cathode of an electrolytic cell; introducing a source of carbon into the electrolytic cell; introducing an iron-free, nickel-free, chromium-containing additive into the electrolyte media before the step of heating or introducing the iron-free, nickel-free chromium-containing additive into the molten electrolyte media, in which the iron-free, nickel-free, chromium-containing additive is added in an amount of between 0.05 wt % and 2 wt %, relative to the amount of the electrolyte media or the molten electrolyte media; applying an electrical current to the cathode and the anode in the electrolytic cell; and collecting the CNM product from the cathode, the CNM product comprises a minimum relative-amount of between 50 wt % and 99 wt %, relative to a total weight of the CNM product of nano-carbon flowers.