A simple chemical approach for the fabrication of nanographite sheets has been developed by denitrogenation of polyaniline thin layers deposited as a coating on natural cellulose nanofibers as in ordinary filter paper. The crystalline domains on the cellulose nanofiber surface directed the adsorption and further polymerization of aniline monomers to form well-aligned polyaniline layers. Treatment of the filter paper with the deposited polyaniline with a sodium hydroxide/urea aqueous solution at -20 degrees C resulted in both the removal of the cellulose and the formation of well-structured nanographite sheets. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.