A SO3H-bearing nanofiber mat was synthesized and investigated as a novel heterogeneous acid catalyst. Preoxidated polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mat was prepared via electrospinning and heat treatment, and then reacted with chlorosulfuric acid to introduce the sulfonic groups. The nanofiber mat owned high acidity of 2.99 mmol/g. The preoxidation and sulfonation were examined by FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray ...