A convenient hydrothermal route was designed for the direct synthesis of nanostructured alpha-Ni(OH)(2) on nickel foam in an aqueous solution only containing Ni(NO3)(2) and urea. The obtained urchin-like Ni(OH)(2) displayed good electrochemical activity with a maximum specific capacitance of 103 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 2.5 A g(-1).