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To increase the volumetric and gravimetric capacitances of supercapacitors, a new class of electrode materials with high electrochemical activity and favorable structures is extremely desired. In this work, a hollow novel nitrogen-doped 3D elastic single-walled carbon nanotube sponge (NSCS) which is ultra lightweight with the lowest density of 0.8 mg cm -3 , and has a high open surface structure for electrolyte accessibility and excellent compressible properties as the electrode scaffold has been successfully fabricated by the pyrolysis method which could produce the carbon nanotube sponge easily on a large scale without high-cost and time-consuming processes. Moreover, a NiCo 2 O 4 nanosheet supported on the NSCS has been successfully fabricated. The highest volumetric and gravimetric capacitance of this electrode is 790 F cm -3 at 1.43 g cm -3 and 1618 F g -1 at 0.54 g cm -3 with excellent cycling stability. The density of NiCo 2 O 4 /NSCS electrode was adjusted by mechanical compression and the most favorable density of the film for both high volumetric and gravimetric capacitances obtained was 1.21 g cm -3 . The thick NiCo 2 O 4 /NSCS film of 72 μm has been fabricated at this favorable density, presenting both high volumetric and gravimetric capacitances of 597 F cm -3 and 1074 F g -1 at 1 A g -1 , respectively, indicating that the structure of the NSCS is extremely feasible for obtaining a thick film electrode with excellent volumetric and gravimetric capacitances. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor of NiCo 2 O 4 /NSCS//NGN/CNTs was fabricated, exhibiting a high gravimetric energy density of 47.65 W h kg -1 at 536 W kg -1 and a volumetric energy density of 33.44 W h L -1 at 376.16 W L -1 .

A porous nanowire material consisting of graphene-amorphous FePO4 was investigated as an advanced cathode material for sodium ion batteries for large-scale applications. This hybrid cathode material showed excellent cycling performance and superior rate capability, which were attributed to the porous nanowire structure and the existence of graphene.

Flower-like antimony sulfide structures were prepared by a simple and easy polyol reflux process. When tested as an anode for sodium ion batteries, the material delivered a high reversible capacity of 835.3 mA h g(-1) at 50 mA g(-1) after 50 cycles and maintained a capacity of 641.7 mA h g(-1) at 200 mA g(-1) after 100 cycles. Even up to 2000 mA g(-1), a capacity of 553.1 mA h g(-1) was obtained, indicating an excellent cycle performance and a superior rate capability. The mechanism of the formation of the micro-flowers was also investigated. The additive used facilitates the controlled release of the reactant to form uniform, shaped nanosheets and an optimum reaction time allows the nanosheets to self-assemble into micro-flowers.