Nanosized γ-alumina is a promising template material for synthesizing nanoporous graphene (NPG) materials since it is one of the most efficient catalysts for catalytic C-H activation. 89 CH4-CVD takes place on alumina nanoparticles (ANPs) with the initial associative dissociation of CH4 as the kinetic bottleneck, and this is followed by acid etching and annealing to give NPGs as minimally stacked porous graphene analogs (Fig. ). The resultant NPGs have a high surface area (>1800 m 2 g -1 ), high electric conductivity, elastic properties, and a sponge-like mesoporous framework.