Carbon　microbeads　were　prepared　by　direct　pyrolysis　of　N-phenyl　maleimide　modified　novolac　resin　microbeads,　and　the　properties　of　the　carbon　microbeads　were　studied　in　this　paper.　Thermal　behavior　of　the　resin　microbeads　was　studied　by　TGA,　FTIR　and　elemental　analysis.　The　carbon　microbeads　were　characterized　using　SEM,　XRD　and　particle　size　analyzer.　In　addition,　electrochemical　performance　of　the　carbon　microbeads　was　studied.　Results　show　that　the　resin　microbeads　possess　excellent　thermal　properties.　The　pyrolysis　products　of　the　resin　microbeads　are　made　up　of　carbon　microbeads　with　an　amorphous　structure.　The　carbon　microbeads　have　high　sphericity　and　smooth　surface,　and　possess　the　properties　including　high　compressive　strength,　high　capacity　and　good　cycling　performance.　©　2010　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.