Nitrogen-doped mesoporous network-like carbon (NMNC) as a high-performance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst was synthesized via hydrothermal reaction of glucose solution followed by pyrolysis under ammonia atmosphere. The obtained NMNC sample at 1000 degrees C (NMNC-1000) exhibits extremely high specific surface area (2588 m(2) g(-1)), large pore volume and mesoporous structure, which facilitates mass transport and exposes more active sites. As a result, NMNC-1000 shows excellent electrocatalytic activity in alkaline media with high half-wave potential (0.759 V vs. RHE) for ORR via a four-electron pathway, which is only 32 mV more negative than that of 20% Pt/C, and stability with noticeable methanol-tolerance and CO anti-poisoning. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.