To improve the pump efficiency of Zr/KClO₄ pyrotechnic reagent used in Solid state laser pump sources, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with catalytic property, high specific surface area, strong adsorption capacity and high strength were introduced in pyrotechnic reagent Zr/KClO₄. The effect of carbon nanotubes on the thermal decomposition and light radiation performance of Zr/KClO₄(60/40) pyrotechnic reagent used in the pump sources was studied by differential thermal analysis technology and photoelectric detection technology. The results show that the addition of CNTs has a significant impact on the thermal decomposition characteristics and light radiation energy of Zr/KClO₄. With increasing of the CNTs, the combustion rate and exothermic quantity of the pyrotechnic reagent gradually increase, and the melting endothermic peak of the pyrotechnic reagent decrease and tend to disappear. However, the light radiation energies reveal the trend of firstly increases and then decreases. When the mass percentage of CNTs in the pyrotechnic reagent is 0.50%, the total radiation energy of the pyrotechnics can reach 1830 J·g^-1. The effective radiation energy within the three strong absorption bands of Nd: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet(YAG) laser gain medium, that is (590 ±10) nm, (750±10) nm and (808±10) nm, can be increased by 41%, 25% and 31%, respectively.