We report H-2 storage capacities up to 2.7 wt% at 77 K in spherical nanoporous carbons exhibiting periodic arrays of pores and surface areas between 946 and 1646 m(2)/g. The materials were produced via the pyrolysis of sucrose (C12H22O11) embedded inside a spherical form of MCM-48 at 1000 degreesC in an inert atmosphere. Our results open up new possibilities for producing carbon nanomaterials with large surface areas, which are able to store hydrogen with attractive yields. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.