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Carbon nanotubes have been used as a backbone for preparing a new type of C/C composite by one-step carbonisation of CNTs/PAN blends. Although their specific surface area is very low, the composites demonstrate high values of capacitance in two-electrode supercapacitors. A template effect of nanotubes on the mesoporous character of the composite is observed. The exceptional capacitance values are due to the combination of the open network of mesopores which favors the access of ions to the active surface and a nitrogen functionality which provides pseudocapacitance properties. © 2004 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]