Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based electrospun nanofibers (NFs) were irradiated using an electron beam. 1% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution was sprayed during Electron Beam Irradiation (EBI) as a further oxidative stabilization process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) of electrospun PAN NFs indicated that the transformation of C=N to C=N groups was accelerated by spraying 1% H2O2 solution. EBI-H2O2 stabilized PAN NFs reduce the onset temperature, extends the exothermic reaction, and improves the stabilization at a significantly lower dose of irradiation (50 kGy) as a result of cyclization and oxidation of PAN molecules caused by 1% H2O2 solution. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.