A simple and green synthetic route based on the use of soluble starch as the template has been utilized to prepare novel Ni(OH)(2)/starch precursors. Nanoporous nickel oxide (NiO) and nickel nanoparticles/amorphous carbon (Ni/C) composites have been successfully prepared by thermal decomposition of the novel Ni(OH)2/starch precursors in air and in nitrogen, respectively. N-2 adsorption-desorption measurements show the two final products having nanoporous structures. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the nanoporous NiO sample has a favorable faradaic pseudocapacitance behavior.