TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Parameter: The weight ratio of mesophase pitch to the carbon precursor in the carbon precursor mixture is 1:4-1:1. The OMS has an x-ray diffraction peak of less than or equal to2degrees. A weight ratio of the total amount of mesophase pitch and carbon precursor to the amount of acid is 1:3.5-1:0.3. An x-ray diffraction analysis of the mesoporous carbon shows main peak(s) of Bragg's 2theta angle to the copper potassium (CuK)-alpha x-ray wavelength of 1.541 Angstrom at 0.5-2, 23-26, or 0.5-2 and 23-26degrees. The average diameter of mesopores is 2-10 nm. The mesoporous carbon has a specific surface area of 200-2000 m2/g. Preferred Composition: The total amount of mesophase pitch and carbon precursor is 50-120 pbw, based on 100 pbw of OMS. The acid is 30-300 pbw, based on 100 pbw of the OMS. The solvent is 400-900 pbw, based on 100 pbw of the OMS. The amount of metal catalyst particles is 40-80 pbw, based on 100 pbw of the supported catalyst. Preferred Component: The acid is composed of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and/or para-toluene sulfonic acid. The OMS is MCM-48, SBA-1, SBA-15, KIT-1, or MSU-1. The mesoporous carbon contains micropores. Preferred Method: Impregnating of the OMS with the carbon precursor mixture is carried out by impregnating the OMS with a first portion of the carbon precursor mixture, heat-treating the OMS impregnated with the first portion of the carbon precursor mixture, and carrying out an additional cycle(s) where OMS is impregnated with an additional portion(s) of the carbon precursor and then heat treated. The OMS is removed from the OMS-carbon composite by dissolving the mesoporous silica with an aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution or an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The carbon precursor is composed of carbohydrate, furfuryl alcohol, divinylbenzene, phenol-formaldehyde, resorcinol-formaldehyde, phenanthrene, and/or anthracene. The solvent comprises water, acetone, methanol, ethanol, isopropylalcohol, n-propylalcohol, butanol, dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, tetrahydrofuran, tetrabutylacetate, n-butylacetate, m-cresol, toluene, ethyleneglycol, gamma-butyrolactone, and/or hexafluoroisopropanol. EXAMPLE - Phenanthrene (0.53 g), mesophase pitch (0.17 g), and sulfuric acid (0.4 g) were completely dissolved in acetone (6 ml) to prepare a homogeneous carbon precursor mixture. The weight ratio of phenanthrene to mesophase pitch was 3:1. The carbon precursor mixture was divided into three equal pbw, and SBA-15 (1 g) was impregnated with one third of the carbon precursor mixture. The impregnated SBA-15 was dried at room temperature for 60 minutes, and then heat-treated at 100degreesC. The dried result was impregnated with another one the carbon precursor mixture, and the result was dried as above. Subsequently, the dried result was impregnated with the remaining one third of the carbon precursor mixture, and the result was dried as above. The dried result was cooled to room temperature, heated under a nitrogen atmosphere, and carbonized at 1100degreesC. The carbonized result was stirred with a mixed solution containing HF, water, and ethanol to remove SBA-15, obtaining mesoporous carbon having Brunauer Emmett Teller surface area of 571 m2/g, pore volume of 1.02 cm3/g, and pore diameter of 3.5 nm.