Carbon nanofiber electrodes for supercapacitors derived from new precursor polymer: Poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinylimidazole)

► Electrospun nanofibers from poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinylimidazole), PAN-VIM. ► Thermal treatment/steam activation produces carbon nanofibers (CNFs). ► CNFs surface area of 1120 m2/g without addition of pore-generating components. ► Electrochemical properties of PAN-VIM derived fibers superior to PAN.