As novel N-doped carbon precursors, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8@polyvinyl pyrrolidone (ZIF-8@PVP) composites were designed and synthesized. Direct carbonization of ZIF-8@PVP composites at a high temperature produced the nitrogen-doped porous carbon materials (named as CP1000). And the electrocatalytic abilities of the corresponding carbonized products toward oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solution were investigated. In comparison with the carbonized product of pure ZIF-8 (named as C1000), CP1000 possesses the higher specific surface area and total pore volume. By adjusting the initial dosage of PVP, three kinds of CP1000 with different size and N content were prepared. It was found that the high specific surface area and favorable quaternary-N species in CP1000 sample played an active role in catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). (C) 2016 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.