The templated carbons were synthesised by carbonisation of a zeolite-sucrose composite. The effects of carbonisation temperature and dwelling time on the development of pore structure of templated carbon were investigated. Various characterisation techniques were employed to investigate the structural and topographical properties of template precursor as well as synthesised carbons. The highest total surface area of 1033m(2)/g and micropore area of 647m(2)/g were obtained for carbon synthesised at 750 degrees C with 3 h dwelling time. It was observed that at lower carbonisation temperature or dwelling time, the surface area and pore volume were lower, which may be attributed to incomplete carbonisation of the sucrose. At higher carbonisation temperature or dwelling time, the decrease in surface area and pore volume could be the result of collapse of the pore structure. Maximum 80% micropore area was observed for the templated carbons depending on the synthesis conditions. The hydrogen uptake of the templated carbons was measured by temperature-programmed desorption at 1 bar pressure and different subzero temperatures. The maximum uptake (0.30wt%) was obtained at 1bar and -100 degrees C for templated carbon, having a surface area of 1033m(2)/g, prepared at 750 degrees C with 3 h dwelling time. This templated carbon had the highest total surface area as well as micropore area. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.