NOVELTY - A composition (C1) comprises carbon particles (A1) prepared from a solution of carbohydrates; and further oxygen of 5-30 wt.%.    USE - In symmetric and asymmetric capacitors, an electrochemical cell, a chemical system and composite electrode (claimed); in a variety of applications such as electrodes in symmetric and asymmetric electrochemical double layer capacitors, electrodes in lithium ion batteries, conductive additive for active materials in lithium ion batteries and other battery chemistries, lubrication, capacitive de-ionization of waste water, electrochemical remediation, water softening, and as a replacement for activated carbon; also used as catalyst supports in fuel cells and metal-air batteries and as cathodes in primary lithium/carbon fluoride batteries; and in military applications such as a radio, a global positioning system unit, night vision goggles, a watch, a sonobuoy, and a hybrid electric combat vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The particles have a specific capacitance of 100-300 F/g in an aqueous electrolyte; and have a specific capacitance of 100-200 F/g in a non-aqueous electrolyte. The composition comprising carbon particles has high capacitive performance; and provides high energy density. The activated carbon nanospheres prepared have capacitive performance of 35-90 F/cc and 60-130 F/g in 1.8M Et3MeNBF4 at 1.5V; and have capacitive performance of 90-200 F/cc and 170-210 F/g in H2SO4 (38 wt.%) at 0.5V. The capacitor has long cycle life, low internal resistance, fast charging rate, and high power density.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a symmetric capacitor comprising carbon electrodes including the composition (C1); and an electrolyte;    (2) an asymmetric capacitor comprising: an electrode including lithium titanate; an opposing electrode including the composition (C1); and an electrolyte;    (3) an electrochemical cell comprising: an electrode including the composition (C1) and a binder; an opposing electrode including a metal element selected from Group 1 elements and Group 2 elements; and an electrolyte;    (4) a chemical system (S1) comprising: a carbohydrate-based substrate; and a coating layer including carbon particles (A2), where the coating layer impregnated to the substrate, and the carbon particles having the composition (C1);    (5) a composite electrode comprising, by weight, substantially equal parts of uncarbonized substantially non-spherical carbon particles and chemically activated substantially spherical carbon particles, where the non-spherical and the spherical particles have the composition (C1);    (6) a composite electrode comprising by weight, substantially equal parts of a first carbon particle having a high gravimetric capacitance and a low volumetric capacitance and a second carbon particle having a low gravimetric capacitance and a high volumetric capacitance, where the first and second carbon particles have the composition (C1);    (7) making (M1) carbon particles, involving: dissolving a carbohydrate-based precursor in water to form a precursor solution; placing the precursor solution in a pressure vessel; heating the pressure vessel to a reaction temperature to form carbon particles; and subjecting the carbon particles to a chemical activation and a physical activation;    (8) making composite electrode, involving: preparing a first set of carbon particles from a solution of carbohydrates, where the first set of carbon particles are substantially non-spherical; preparing a second set of carbon particles from a solution of carbohydrates, where the second set of carbon particles are substantially spherical; subjecting the second set of carbon particles to chemical activation; and mixing the first and second sets of carbon particles; and    (9) making composite electrode, involving: preparing a first set of carbon particles from a solution of carbohydrates, where the first set of carbon particles having a high gravimetric capacitance and a low volumetric capacitance; preparing a second set of carbon particles from a solution of carbohydrates, where the second set of carbon particles having a low gravimetric capacitance and a high volumetric capacitance; and mixing the first and second sets of carbon particles.