Cellulose was doped with elemental boron and heat-treated up to 2600 degreesC with the objective of optimizing the B doping conditions to increase crystallinity and oxidation stability of the carbons. Heat treatment and the incorporation of B increase crystallinity of the carbons, as expected. But B doping at 2600 degreesC does not show any catalytic effect of substitutional B on graphitization or an increase in oxidation-resistance. It seems to be that B doping at 2300 degreesC can maximize the effect of substitutional B on graphitization and oxidation -resistance, and heat treatment at higher temperature is not necessary. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.