Porous carbon containing large quantities of separated individual nanoparticles (2–100 nm) was produced. The chemical process includes fluorination or oxygenation of graphite, and then exposing the product (graphite fluoride or graphite oxide) to metal chlorides. The nanoparticles were metal halides or metal oxides, which could contain dopants if they were added during the synthesis process. The metal to carbon atomic ratio was in the range of 1 (3–6). The chlorides used in this research include those of Pd, Zn, Al and Li. Depending on the synthesis process, the carbon pores could be either filled with the nanoparticles, resulting in near-zero surface area and high metal concentration, or partially filled with nanoparticles, resulting in large surface areas. In this report, near zero surface areas were observed for a product of LiCl in carbon, and a surface area of 75 m2/g was observed for the product of γ- Al2O3 in carbon. Heating these products in 1 atm air allowed the nanoparticles to become fuse together in the form of metal oxide while the carbon was oxidized, producing metal oxides which have the same shape as the carbon precursors (fibers, fabrics, or powder) and large surface areas. These products are potentially useful in the area of batteries, high temperature gas sensors, and catalysts. Also, these products could be used to examine individual nanopartidles, whose electrical, optical, and chemical properties differ from those of their single crystal or amorphous counterparts