Nitrogen-doped hollow activated carbon nanofibers (HACNFs) have been prepared by the concentric electrospinning and the following NH3 activation. The as-obtained samples were directly used as supercapacitor electrode without binders and conductive additives. Owing to the unique hollow architecture and high N-doping level (8.2%), the HACNFs exhibit a high specific capacitance of 197 F g(-1) at 0.2 A g(-1), which is 1.33 times than that of the solid electrospun nanofibers activated in the same condition. The samples also possess a superior rate capability of 72.1% (143 F g(-1)) at 20 A g(-1) and long-term cycling stability with a retention of 98.6% after 1000 cycles at 5 A g(-1) in 6 M KOH. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.