Here we fabricate hi.-h-purity carbon sheets consisting of 250 nm nanofibers through the fibre formation of poly (benzimidazol) by electro-spinning and subsequent heat treatment up to 3000 degreesC without the stabilization process (the most time-consuming step). The non-graphitic character of these nanofibers is due to: (1) the low graphitization-ability of the polymer itself, (2) the limited graphitization of the size effect (small diameter) (3) the existence of internal pores formed during the electrospinning process. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.