A process for preparing a conductive carbonized layered article including the steps of: (I) providing a liquid carbon precursor formulation comprising (a) at least one aromatic epoxy resin; and (b)(i) at least one aromatic co-reactive curing agent, (b) (ii) at least one catalytic curing agent, or (b)(iii) a mixture thereof; wherein the liquid precursor composition has a neat viscosity of less than 10,000 mPa-s at 25° C. prior to adding optional components, prior to curing, and prior to carbonizing; and wherein the liquid precursor composition being cured has a carbon yield of at least 35 weight percent disregarding the weight of the substrate and any optional components present in the composition; (II) applying the liquid formulation of step (I) as a thin coating layer onto at least a portion of the surface of a substrate; (III) curing the liquid formulation of step (II) to form a cured product, wherein the cured product has a carbon yield of at least 35 weight percent disregarding the weight of the substrate and any optional components present in the composition; and (IV) carbonizing the cured product of step (III) to form a conductive carbonized layered article; and a conductive carbonized layered article such as a carbon optical transparent electrode (COTE) prepared by the above process.