A simple process involving the electrophoretic deposition of acetylene black onto Ni foam and the ionic liquid electrodeposition of Ge has been used to synthesize a 3D Ge–acetylene black–Ni foam electrode material at room temperature. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that when applied in a lithium ion battery, this material exhibits a high capacity of up to 924 mA h g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at 0.1 C and a high rate capability at 1 C and 5 C rates of 1210 and 524 mA h g⁻¹, respectively. This high electrochemical performance is the result of the 3D acetylene black network enhancing electron migration, while also providing sufficient elasticity to buffer the volume expansion of the Ge nanoparticles.