Carbon nanotube (CNT) is an ideal electrode material for supercapacitors due to its low electronic and ionic charge-transfer resistances. Here we reported the direct synthesis 3D carbon nanotube foam (CNTF) macrostructure by conversing CO2 through template-directed chemical vapour deposition. Using this unique network structure and outstanding electrical and mechanical properties of the CNTF, as an example, we demonstrate the excellent electrochemical properties of Ni(OH)(2)/CNTF composite. Based on the total mass of the electrode, as high as specific capacitances of 259 and 131 Fg(-1) are obtained at current densities of 0.5 and 10 Ag-1 respectively. Meanwhile, the electrode also exhibits excellent long cycle life along with 94.0% specific capacitance retained after 2000 cycle tests. Moreover, this template-directed CVD technique is versatile and scalable, and can be a general strategy for fabricating a broad class of three-dimensional macroscopic structures of determined shapes with excellent properties and new uses. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.