Enhancement in electrochemical energy storage resides in tailored nanotextures resulting from making electrode materials with controlled compositions and structures. The complex interplay of solvent and solute structures and dynamics at charged interfaces, the transport of electrolyte ions into and out of pores, solvation/desolvation processes occurring in pores approaching bare-ion dimensions, and formation of interfaces via chemical reactions are all important parameters. Herein, several self-assembly synthesis methods for carbon and oxide composites as electrode materials for energy storage will be discussed. The objective of this talk is to demonstrate that nanostructured carbons and oxides derived from soft-template synthesis not only entail a high storage capacity but also, most importantly, can be made to have a significantly enhanced electronic & ionic conductivities and storage capacities. These enhanced transport properties in electrode architectures are the key to providing a high-rate capability for the corresponding energy storage systems.