This　work　developed　novel　surface-modified　carbon　foams　(SMCFs)　with　high　heteroatom　contents　and　a　certain　amount　of　iron　oxide　particles　via　the　carbothermal　reduction　reaction　between　iron　oxide　and　the　cyanate　resin-based　carbon　foam.　The　effects　of　carbothermal　reduction　of　iron　oxide　on　microstructures　and　electrochemical　properties　of　the　carbon　foams　have　been　studied　systematically　using　TG,　XRD,　FESEM,　BET,　and　XPS.　Results　show　that　the　carbothermal　reduction　greatly　influences　the　microstructures　of　carbon　foams　when　the　temperature　is　higher　than　600　°C.　The　generated　iron　oxide　particles　were　embedded　into　the　surface　of　carbon　foams.　With　the　increase　of　temperature,　the　surface　became　porous　and　rough　with　a　certain　graphitic　structure.　When　the　temperature　arrives　at　1000　°C,　the　as-prepared　SMCF-1000　has　a　highest　specific　capacitance　of　212.42　F　g−1　at　1　A　g−1,　and　the　specific　capacitance　maintains　107%　of　the　initial　value　after　10,000　charge-discharge　cycles.　In　addition,　the　SMCF-1000　exhibits　a　maximum　compressive　strength　of　2.52　MPa,　which　is　expected　to　be　a　novel　three-dimensional　self-supporting　electrode　material.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.