Graphitic nanofibres were synthesised using the chemical vapour decomposition method with ethylene (C2H4) as the carbon feedstock and iron (III) oxide as the catalyst. A parametric study was conducted to determine the optimum conditions for producing graphitic nanofibres by applying the Taguchi method. The result shows that the optimum conditions are at 600°C for 4 h and C2H4/H2 flowrate of 30 : 70 mL min-1. Under these conditions, the sample shows the highest yield and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area that are 4.489 g g cat -1 h-1 and 556.65 m2 g -1 respectively. The sample is applied in H2 adsorption/desorption process at 77 K and pressure of 20 bar. The mass uptake is found to be 0.643 wt-. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd. 2009.