Efficient　electrode　material　is　crucial　for　energy　conversion　from　renewable　sources　such　as　solar　electricity.　We　present　a　method　for　preparation　of　carbon　nanotubes　(CNTs)　with　zeolitic　imidazolate　frameworks　(ZIFs,　e.g.,　ZIF-8)　via　an　in　situ　pyrolysis　process.　The　resultant　materials　are　completely　new　carbon　composites　with　desirable　hierarchical　porosity　and　nitrogen-doped　features.　Electron　microscopy　images　show　that　CNTs　with　small　external　diameters　enable　more　uniform　dispersion　of　ZIF-8-derived　carbons,　subsequently　yielding　a　unique　hierarchically　porous　structure.　Such　carbon　shows　superior　activity　in　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR)　and　high　performance　of　supercapacitance,　making　it　a　valuable　metal-free　electrode　material　and　a　competent　alternative　to　the　state-of-the-art　Pt/C　catalyst.　The　electrocatalytic　performance　of　CNTs　can　be　dramatically　improved　by　the　incorporation　of　ZIF-8-derived　carbons,　which　is　attributed　to　the　combination　of　good　conductivity,　abundant　accessible　dopant　species,　as　well　as　proper　porosity.　Our　method　offers　a　new　avenue　for　constructing　electrocatalysts　by　effective　integration　of　ZIF-8-derived　carbon　and　the　CNTs　skeleton.　©　2017　Science　China　Press