To improve the electrochemical properties of chemically synthesized graphene hybrids, nitrogen-doped (N-doped) graphene decorated with M(OH)(x) (M =FeO, Ni, Co) nanoparticles were fabricated by a one-pot method at a mild temperature (95 degrees C). Urea plays an important role in the synthesis process; it not only acts as the reducing agent and doping agent for N-doped graphene, but also as a hydroxyl donor for the fabrication of metal hydroxides and oxide-hydroxide. With the help of N-doped graphene and urea, FeOOH nanorods, Co(OH)(2) nanowires and flower-like Ni(OH)(2) nanoparticles were grown on the graphene sheets. The N-doped graphene hybrids exhibited the significantly improved electrochemical performances compared to the undoped equivalents or the separate components. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.