Graphitic carbon nanostructures have been synthesized from cellulose via a simple methodology that essentially consists of the steps: (i) hydrothermal treatment of cellulose at 250 degrees C and (ii) impregnation of the carbonaceous product with a nickel salt followed by thermal treatment at 900 degrees C. The formation of graphitic carbon nanostructures seems to occur by a dissolution-precipitation mechanism in which amorphous carbon is dissolved in the catalyst nanoparticles and then precipitated as graphitic carbon around the catalyst particles. The subsequent removal of the nickel nanoparticles and amorphous carbon by oxidative treatment leads to graphitic nanostructures with a coil morphology. This material exhibits a high degree of crystallinity and large and accessible surface area. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.