An all cis-polyaniline nanotube film was successfully prepared using a novel unipolar pulse electropolymerization method and its formation mechanism was analyzed and discussed. Due to its unique chemical molecular conformation, many excellent performances such as low charge transfer resistance, good water wettability, high apparent diffusion coefficient, large redox site capacity and super-stability were identified. When it was applied for the supercapacitor electrode, a high specific capacitance of 1007.7 F g(-1) with a dramatic retention life of 99% after 2000 charge/discharge cycles was obtained. The ascorbic acid sensor fabricated by this film showed a large linear range for the detection of ascorbic acid between 1.0 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-2) M with a high sensitivity of 182 mA M-1 cm(-1). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.