Synthesis of carbon nanohorn–carbon nanotube hybrids using palm olein as a precursor

The formation of carbon nanohorn (CNH)–multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hybrids was accomplished using chemical vapour deposition at 950 °C. A bio-renewable resource, palm olein, and a mixture of zinc nitrate and ferrocene were used as the carbon precursor and catalyst, respectively. The hybrid shows good graphitic quality and a high aspect ratio of the aligned MWCNT. The estimated lengths and diameters of CNH are about 100–400 and 50–100 nm, respectively. It is believed that the surface of the ZnO particles was impregnated by the metal irons from ferrocene and grouped them together, which then served as a base for the formation of bundles of aligned MCWNTs.