Mesoporous Co(OH)(2) was synthesized by using CH3(CH2)(10)CH2OSO3Na as soft template and urea as hydrolysis-controlling agent. The composition and microstructure of Co(OH)(2) was investigated by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms. Structure characterizations indicated a good mesoporous structure for the prepared Co(OH)(2) with adsorption average pore diameter of 11 nm and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area of 283 m(2) g(-1). Cyclic voltammogram, galvanostatic charge-discharge test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis showed that the Co(OH)(2) possessed good capacitive behavior. The maximum specific capacitance of 341 F g(-1) was obtained for the mesoporous Co(OH)(2) at a charge/discharge current density of 5 mA cm(-2). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.