Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple method for the synthesis of fullerenes using a mixture of liquid metallorganic precursors and liquid organic hydrocarbon solvents wherein the mixture is injected in the form of droplets into a multiple heated zone reactor tube in which the droplets are thermally decomposed and fullerenes are formed. The process is useful for the formation of all types of fullerenes, and in particular yields multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with low defect density and controllable wt % of metal impurity atoms. In particular, a method is disclosed that produces as-grown MWNTs with less than 5 wt % metal impurity atoms. Large classes of metallorganic precursors suitable for use in the process are also identified.