This feature article provides an overview of the recent research progress on the hierarchically structured carbon-based composites for electrochemical capacitors. The basic principles of electrochemical capacitors, and the design, construction and performance of hierarchically structured carbon-based composites electrode materials with good ions and electron transportation and large specific surface area are discussed. The trend of future development of high-power and large-energy electrochemical capacitors is proposed.

A facile one‐step hydrothermal method is developed for large‐scale production of well‐designed flexible and free‐standing Co3O4/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hybrid paper as an electrode for electrochemical capacitors. Densely packed unique Co3O4 monolayer microsphere arrays uniformly cover the surface of the rGO/CNTs film. The alkaline hydrothermal treatment leads to not only the deposition of Co3O4 microspheres array, but also the reduction of the GO sheets at the same time. The unique hybrid paper is evaluated as an electrode for electrochemical capacitors without any ancillary materials. It is found that the obtained hybrid flexible paper, composed of Co3O4 microsphere array anchored to the underling conductive rGO/CNTs substrate with robust adhesion, is able to deliver high specific capacitance with excellent electrochemical stability even at high current densities, suggesting its promising application as an efficient electrode material for electrochemical capacitors.

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Nanocrystalline Li4Ti5O12 grown on conducting graphene nanosheets (GNS) with good crystallinity was investigated as an advanced lithium-ion battery anode material for potential large-scale applications. This hybrid anode nanostructure material showed ultrahigh rate capability and good cycling properties at high rates.

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