Sustainable and cost-effective energy generation has become crucial for fulfilling present energy requirements. For this purpose, development of cheap, scalable, efficient, and reliable catalysts is essential. Carbon based heteroatom doped, three dimensional and mesoporous electrodes are very promising as catalysts for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. Various carbon allotropes doped with variety of heteroatoms can be utilized for cost-effective mass production of electrode materials. 3D porous carbon electrodes provide multiple advantages, such as, large surface area, maximized exposure to active sites, 3D conductive pathways for efficient electron transport, and porous channels to facilitate electrolyte diffusion. However, it is challenging to synthesize and functionalize isotropic 3D carbon WILEY-VCH This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. 2 structures. Here, various synthesis processes of 3D porous carbon materials are summarized to understand how their physical and chemical properties together with heteroatom doping dictate the electrochemical catalytic performance. Prospects of attractive 3D carbon structural materials for energy conversion, and efficient integrated energy systems are also discussed.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. 12Recently, 3D carbon electrodes, including MOF-derived mesoporous carbon structures and carbide derived carbon and onion-like carbon structures, [133] have been prepared by solution based chemical processes, condensation and coordination reactions. Other major printing techniques, such as inkjet printing, screen printing, and transfer printing, have also been commonly used for depositing nanostructured carbons onto substrates of varying size, surface energy, and flexibility for energy applications, though 3D printing is an emerging technology. [134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143][144] 3D printing can offer porous carbon structures of 10 m thick or thicker with very quick drying time (few sec). [133][134][135][136][137] Carbon allotropic nanomaterials combined with various polymers have been used as highly viscous inks for fabricating 3D printed carbon structures for Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, water splitting electrolyzers, fuel cells, and environmental protection applications. [136][137][138][139][140] Figure 4 illustrates various electrodes fabricated by different 3D printing methods.