Abstract: Carbon electrodes for use in, for example, Capacitive Deionization (CDI) of a fluid stream or, for example, an electric double layer capacitor (EDCL). Methods of making the carbon electrodes are also described. The carbon electrode comprises an electrically conductive porous carbon support and a carbon cover layer comprising carbon particles in contact with the electrically conductive porous carbon support. A carbonizable material is within the electrically conductive porous carbon support and provides a bond to the carbon particles at the interface of the electrically conductive porous carbon support and the carbon cover layer. The electrically conductive porous support in some embodiments is a layered structure, where one of the layers is a carbonizable paste layer having electrically conductive particles mixed therein.