This work focuses on preparations of porous carbon composite nanofibers (CCNFs) with silicon-containing compounds and the introduction of a high specific surface area through the creation of pores by a simple thermal treatment. Blends of phenylsilane (PS) solutions at various concentrations and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were electrospun into nanofibers. This process was followed by carbonization at 800 degrees C to create CCNFs with diameters of 60-200 nm and a high specific surface area of over 800 m(2)/g. The specific capacitance of the electrode in GM KOH solution was extraordinarily high (180 F/g). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.