▎ 摘　　要

3D hollow porous graphene balls (HPGBs) were synthesized directly from coal tar pitch for the first time by a simple nano-MgO template strategy coupled with KOH activation. The as-made HPGBs feature a 3D spherical architecture with a thin porous shell that has a high specific surface area and consists of macropores, mesopores and micropores in a well-balanced ratio. As the electrode material for supercapacitors, the as-made HPGBs show a high specific capacitance of 321 F g(-1) at 0.05 A g(-1), an excellent rate performance of 244 F g(-1) at 20 A g(-1), and good cycle stability with over 94.4% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles. This work may pave a new way for efficient and scaled-up production of low-cost spherical graphene materials, from aromatic hydrocarbon sources such as coal tar and heavy oils, for supercapacitors.