The nanoporous oxide layer is formed on the surface of 304 type stainless steel (SS) by chemical oxidation method. The characterization of the oxide layer is carried out using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. The supercapacitive properties of oxide layer are studied using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.