The performance of both blank and RuO2-impregnated SnO2 (Sb-6 mol%) xerogel electrodes are enhanced significantly by improved crystallinity via a novel crystallization process, which effectively suppresses grain coarsening and hence allows the xerogel to be crystallized at high temperatures while maintaining a high surface area. The improved SnO2 electrodes show maximum specific capacitances which exceed 10 F g(-1) in 1 M KOHaq at 200 mV s(-1) after firing at 800 degreesC. The enhancement becomes increasingly pronounced with increasing charge-discharge rate due to improved oxide conductivity.