Contents A green and cost-effective method, named the "solid dual-ions-transformation reaction", is reported to achieve the goal of successfully doping S and N into hollow carbon nanotubes. No harmful raw material is needed during the whole synthesis. Importantly, in the catalytic test of chemical reduction of p-nitrophenol by NaBH4, the as-obtained S, N co-doped hollow carbon nanotubes exhibit ultrahigh catalytic performances.