Nanostructured carbons and methods of preparing the same

A method of preparing a nanocarbon material comprising:

• heating a template to a first temperature, the template consists of a catalyst;
• wherein the catalyst comprises lanthanum carbonate hydroxide, lanthanum carbonate oxide, or a mixed phase of lanthanum carbonate hydroxide and lanthanum carbonate oxide;
• exposing the template to a carbon source at the first temperature for a first period of time;
• annealing the template and carbon derived from the carbon source at a second temperature for a second period of time;
• and
• removing the template to provide a nanocarbon material having an electrical conductivity greater than about 103 S/m and a surface area greater than about 500 m2/g.