Highly porous activated carbon with controlled oxygen content

A porous activated carbon material formed according to a method, comprising:

• forming a mixture of a carbon precursor selected from the group consisting of a synthetic polymer thermosetting resin and a synthetic polymer thermoplastic resin and an inorganic compound selected from the group consisting of KOH, K2CO3, KCl, NaOH, Na2CO3, NaCl, P2O5, AlCl3, MgCl2, ZnCl2 and H3PO4;
• heating the mixture at a first temperature to cure the carbon precursor;
• heating the cured carbon precursor at a second temperature higher than the first temperature to carbonize the carbon precursor and produce an activated carbon material, wherein the method further comprises:
• (a) heating the mixture at the first temperature in a nitrogen environment, and
• (b) washing the activated carbon to remove the inorganic compound and then heating the washed activated carbon material at a third temperature ranging from about 450° C. to 1000° C. in an environment that is substantially free of oxygen to refine the activated carbon material, wherein the activated carbon material comprises 7 to 8 wt. % oxygen and at least one of a microporous volume of 0.65 to 0.67 cm3/g and a total pore volume of 0.75 to 0.78 cm3/g.