Nickel-cobalt　layered　double　hydroxides　(NiCo-LDHs),　as　potential　electrode　materials　for　supercapacitors,　have　unique　layered　structures　and　high　theoretical　specific　capacitance.　Unfortunately,　NiCo-LDHs　often　suffer　from　inherent　low　electrical　conductivity　and　their　unsatisfactory　cyclic　stability,　hindering　their　practical　applications.　In　this　study,　three-dimensional　porous　spherical　structural　NiCoZn-LDH/GN　composites　were　constructed　with　small-sized　graphene　nanosheets　(GN)　as　substrates　by　a　facile　hydrothermal　strategy.　GN　can　act　as　mechanical　supports　to　prevent　aggregation　of　NiCoZn-LDH　nanosheets.　The　as-fabricated　Ni1Co2Zn1-LDH/GN　composite　has　a　high　specific　capacitance　of　2838　F　g−1　at　1　A　g−1,　which　is　much　higher　than　those　of　GN　(21　F　g−1)　and　NiCo-LDH　(1979　F　g−1).　This　is　because　the　surface　functional　groups　of　the　small-sized　GN　contribute　to　the　initial　nucleation　of　NiCo-LDH,　which　ensures　the　efficient　combination　of　NiCo-LDH　and　GN,　thus　enhancing　the　electron　transport　rate　of　Ni1Co2Zn1-LDH/GN.　Moreover,　compared　to　NiCo-LDH,　Zn　doping　induces　the　NiCoZn-LDH/GN　composite　a　more　open　three-dimensional　structure,　facilitating　mass　transfer　and　improving　the　charge　transport　behavior.　An　asymmetric　supercapacitor　(Ni1Co2Zn1-LDH/GN//AC)　was　assembled　using　Ni1Co2Zn1-LDH/GN　as　a　positive　electrode　and　AC　as　a　negative　electrode,　with　an　energy　density　of　61.1　Wh　kg−1　at　800　W　kg−1.　Therefore,　this　study　provides　a　new　approach　for　obtaining　high-performance　NiCo-LDH-based　supercapacitor　electrodes　through　the　introduction　of　GN　and　Zn　doping.　©　2025　Elsevier　B.V.