Carbon　foams　were　prepared　by　direct　pyrolysis　of　cyanate　ester　(CE)　resin　at　ambient　pressure.　The　structures　of　the　carbon　foams　prepared　at　different　pyrolysis　temperatures　were　characterized　using　SEM,　XRD　and　elemental　analysis,　and　their　characteristics　were　studied　including　bulk　density,　porosity　and　electrical　conductivity.　In　addition,　the　electrochemical　performances　of　the　carbon　foams　used　directly　as　electrodes　of　electrochemical　capacitor　were　investigated.　Results　show　that　the　carbon　foams　possess　well-developed　pore　structures　with　low　density　and　high　porosity,　and　meanwhile　have　high　nitrogen　and　oxygen　contents　as　well　as　good　electrical　conductivity.　Moreover,　the　carbon　foams　possess　good　electrochemical　performances,　as　indicated　by　that　they　exhibit　almost　rectangular-shaped　cyclic　voltammetry　curves　and　have　a　maximum　specific　capacitance　of　126　F/g　at　a　current　density　of　0.1　A/g　with　excellent　cyclability.　©　2014　Elsevier　B.V.