An activated nano-porous carbon is produced using a liquid organic compound as a starting material. A combination of the liquid organic compound with organic acids is mixed with conductive carbon powder and polymerized. The polymerized material is then carbonized and activated using physical or chemical methods. The activated nano-porous carbon obtained using this method has been used to fabricate EDLC devices. The carbon has also shown large surface area (up to ˜2000 m2/gm, depending on the degree of activation) and can be used for various other activated carbon applications.