Mesoporous carbon microspheres (MCMs) with the diameters of 0.5-2.0 mu m. main mesopore sizes of 2.6-4.0 nm and specific surface areas of 449-1212 m(2) g(-1) are synthesized by a novel hydrothermal emulsion-activated method. The typical MCMs as electrode materials have a specific capacitance of 157 F g(-1) at a high current density of 10.0 A g(-1) in 6 M KOH aqueous solution. The resultant MCMs electrode materials with high current charge and discharge capability in 6 M KOH aqueous solution provide important prospect for electrode materials in supercapacitors which could offer high power density for electric vehicles. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.