A novel method, based on dynamic carbonization and silica template formed by sol–gel, was developed to prepare nanoporous carbon materials with tailored pore structures. The effects of the sol–gel reaction and carbonization process on the final nanoporous carbon product were investigated by pore features such as specific surface area, the total pore volume, and pore size distribution, which were systemically characterized by iodine index, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. The experimental results indicate that the pore structures of the prepared nanoporous carbon are tunable on the nano-scale by controlling the preparation process in the proposed method. The nanoporous carbon prepared under the optimal conditions has a high total pore volume of 1.26 cm3/g, a large specific surface area of 1744 m2/g, and a maximal adsorption capacity of 9.2 mg/g to gibberellic acid in aqueous solution, which is nearly 6 times that of commercial activated carbon.Highlights► Silica formed by sol–gel as template for nanoporous carbon preparation. ► Pore structures are tunable on the nano-scale. ► High total pore volume and large specific surface developing. ► Adsorption of gibberellic acid in aqueous solution carrying out.