Urchin-like ZnO@MnO2 core@shell nanostructures were synthesized via two step easy-controlled hydrothermal methods intercalated with a carbonization process. As a powder electrode, it showed improved electrochemical properties (similar to 59.4% retention of its initial capacitance even when current density increased 50 times and 111.3% of its original capacitance after 5000 long-term cycles) compared with bare MnO2 nanoflakes and many reported binder-free ZnO@MnO2 electrodes, which could be considered as high-rate and high-stability pseudocapacitor electrodes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.