Preparation of mesoporous carbon with controllable pore size by changing N2 pressure

•Mesoporous carbon was synthesized by a one-step method without template.•The pore size was adjusted by changing N2 pressure in the carbonization process.•The sample exhibited a specific capacitance of 202 F g−1.

Mesoporous carbon (MC) was prepared by carbonization of glucose at 620 °C for 4 h under N2 atmosphere. The pore size was adjusted by changing the N2 pressure from 0 to 0.1 MPa. The typical MC which was obtained at the N2 pressure of 0.05 MPa possessed the pore size distribution in the range of 2–4.5 nm. As an electrode material, the prepared MC exhibited a specific capacitance of 202 F g−1 and capacity retention of 90.6% after 3000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g−1.