Fine polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were produced through a scalable centrifugal spinning process. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was added to the PAN-dimethylformamide solution to decrease the surface tension and consequently promote a decrease in fiber diameter while increasing the fiber output. The fiber preparation process involved the centrifugal spinning of the PAN-based solution; developed fibers were stabilized in air at 240 degrees C followed by carbonization at 800 degrees C under a Nitrogen atmosphere. The addition of sodium chloride to the PAN solution led to a 37% decrease in the carbon fiber diameter. The carbon fibers were analyzed by scanning electron microcopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical experiments. The TEM results revealed improved graphitization with the addition of sodium chloride. The XPS analysis showed increased functionality (e.g. O-2) on the surface of carbon fibers obtained from PAN/NaCl precursor fibers. A significant improvement was achieved in the electrochemical performance of carbon fibers made from PAN/NaCl precursor fibers compared to those made from pure PAN precursor fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:2047-2054, 2018. (c) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers