Porous carbon particles with a spherical shape were prepared by a spray pyrolysis process using sucrose and NaHCO3. The prepared carbon particles had macropores (40 similar to 50 nm) as well as mesopores with specific surface areas of 669 and 825 m(2)/g when the ratio of NaHCO3 to sucrose was 1.0 and 3.0, respectively. Many surface functional groups such as C = O, C-O and OH were generated and could improve the wettability of the synthesized carbon. Clear G and D bands in Raman spectra were observed, indicating that the prepared carbon particles have a graphite-like structure. Electrochemical properties of the prepared carbon particles were investigated by the cyclic voltammetry and electrical impedance analysis. Compared with the commercially-available activated carbon, the porous carbon particles prepared by the spray pyrolysis showed an improved electrosorption capacitance. The increase of the effective surface area for the ion sorption due to the existence of macropores with mesopores, as well as the existence of many surface functional groups, were responsible for the improvement of the electrosorption capacitance. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.