Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with 20-40 nm in diameter and several micro-meters in length were prepared through catalytic pyrolysis of phenol resin at 400-1000 °C under Ar atmosphere using nickel nitrate as a catalyst precursor. Microstructure and morphology of pyrolysed resin were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the onset and optimal growth temperatures of CNTs were 400 and 800 °C respectively. Moreover, the optimal weight ratio of Ni catalyst to phenol resin was 0.75%.

Magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) porous ceramics were in-situ synthesized by heating the mixture of Al2O3 and MgCO3 with MgCl2 salt at 1400~1600 °C for 3 h, and then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The morphology of as-prepared MgAl2O4 porous ceramics was dependent on the addition of MgCl2, and it indicated that the MgCl2 molten salt not only acted as a template for pore formation of the porous ceramics, but also provided a liquid environment for the synthesis of MgAl2O4.