Boron doped and undoped poly(vinyl) alcohol/zirconium-yttrium acetate (PVA/Zr-Y) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning using PVA as a precursor. The effect of boron doping was investigated in terms of solution properties, morphological changes and thermal properties. The effect of boron doping on calcined yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) fibers was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. XRD analysis revealed varying amounts of monoclinic and tetragonal zirconia present in the undoped fibers calcined at 800 degrees C. The average crystallite sizes of the undoped YSZ were increased from 9.28 to 22.79 nm with calcining temperature increasing from 250 to 800 degrees C. The crystallite size was enhanced with boron doping. The systematic evolution of morphological features in the spun and the processed fibers were employed by scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. (c) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers