Abstract: Mesoporous carbon and method of making involves forming a mixture of a high carbon-yielding carbon precursor that when carbonized yields greater than about 40% carbon on a cured basis, and an additive that can be catalyst metal and/or low carbon-yielding carbon precursor that when carbonized yields no greater than about 40% by weight carbon on a cured basis. When a catalyst metal is used, the amount of catalyst metal after the subsequent carbonization step is no greater than about 1 wt. % based on the carbon. The mixture is cured, and the carbon precursors are carbonized and activated to produce mesoporous activated carbon.