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NiCoS-based nanostructured films have been grown directly onto nickel foams by a facile two-step method, involving the growth of NiCo-precursor and subsequent conversion into NiCoS via a sulfidation process, with the aid of sodium dodecyl surfactant (SDS). This synthesis method enables the fabrication of binder- and conductive additive-free electrodes for supercapacitors. The influence of the surfactant on the crystal structure, morphology, and electrochemical performance of the electrodes has been investigated. The NiCoS-SDS films exhibit a complex cellular and hierarchical porous structure, which are different from NiCoS-pure films with nanotube arrays structure. Moreover, the electrochemical tests show that the NiCoS-SDS nanostructured electrode exhibits an ultrahigh specific capacitance of 2519 F g at 0.5 A g, which doubles that of the NiCoS-pure nanotube arrays electrode. In addition, the NiCoS-SDS electrode exhibits excellent cycling stability with 90.7 % capacitance retention at 10 A g after 8000 cycles. In view of the low cost and superior electrochemical performance, the NiCoS-SDS electrodes are promising electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]