Nanocarbide-derived carbon (CDC) was synthesized at room temperature by etching Nb 4 AlC 3 and Ti 3 SiC 2 powders in alkali and acid solutions, respectively. The obtained CDC showed similar morphologies as the one obtained by high temperature chlorination. The CDC synthesis mechanisms included removal of Nb, Al, Ti, Si and formation of amorphous carbon phase which reordered in various structures including carbon barrel, onion, ribbon, tube, and rod. The CDC obtained from Ti 3 SiC 2 showed high nitrogen adsorption capability of 86.8cm 3 /g (STP) (P/P 0 ≈1).