The dependence of the composition of aqueous electrolytes in the pore system of activated carbon on the potential has been determined by monitoring the amount of ions exchanged with the external electrolyte upon immersion and upon changing the electrode potential. From the investigation with KF solutions, a quantity delta/root epsilon = 4 x 10(-10) m is evaluated where delta is half the width of the micropores, and epsilon the (relative) permittivity. This is in accordance with delta approximate to nm and epsilon approximate to 7 applying to essentially immobilized water and fits into the results with the other electrolytes. Anions are adsorbed in the cases of sodium perchlorate and potassium hydroxide, while protons are adsorbed in the case of acids (HCl, H2SO4). The adsorption Of ClO4- seems to result from electrostatic interaction with the solid, while H+ and OH- are strongly chemisorbed, probably at surface groups like > CO. Ionic mobilities of ions in the micropores have been determined from conductance measurements concerning the pore electrolyte of a single spherical particle of activated carbon. Mobilities are more than one order of magnitude lower than those in bulk electrolyte, probably due to an increased viscosity of the liquid in the narrow pores and/or to the coulombic interaction with charged domains of the solid. The rate of charging of the capacitor (solid/micropore electrolyte) is assisted by macropores distributing ions throughout the carbon material. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.