Identifying the largest environmental life cycle impacts during carbon nanotube synthesis via chemical vapour deposition

► Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment on the growth of high quality multi-walled carbon nanotubes. ► Inventory data includes the synthesis of chemical inputs and infrastructure componentry parts. ► All process flows are measured directly from an operational laboratory process. ► Impact assessment of the relative contribution of all discrete life cycle stages. ► Previously unreported impacts due to infrastructure are significant in MWNT growth.