Well-coated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) with polyaniline (PANI) composite electrodes with good uniformity for electrochemical capacitors are prepared by the polymerization of aniline containing well-dissolved SWNTs. The capacitance properties are investigated with cyclic voltammetry, charge-discharge tests and ac impedance spectroscopy. The composite electrode shows much higher specific capacitance, better power characteristics and is more promising for application in capacitor than pure PANI electrode. The effect and role of SWNT in the composite electrode are also discussed in detail. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.