The　utilization　of　harsh　chemicals　is　obligatory　during　the　preparation　of　biomass-derived　carbon　materials.　ZIF-8　serves　as　a　zinc-based　metal-organic　framework　(MOF),　in　which　the　internal　zinc　ions　(Zn2+)　are　reduced　to　metallic　Zn　during　high-temperature　pyrolysis,　which　then　evaporates　and　etches　the　carbon　skeleton,　significantly　increasing　the　specific　surface　area　and　porosity　of　the　material.　In　the　current　work,　the　ZIF-8　and　the　legume　root　nodules　were　used　as　an　activator　and　biomass　precursors　to　develop　a　more　atom-economical　and　eco-friendly　strategy　for　the　preparation　of　porous　carbon　materials.　The　roles　the　ZIF-8　and　the　species　of　legume　root　nodules　play　in　the　structure　and　performance　of　the　final　carbon　materials　were　well　explored　and　discussed.　The　specific　surface　area　of　our　optimal　carbon　RW@Z8(5)　is　up　to　1459.27　m2　g-1.　The　catalyst　RW@Z8(5)　was　employed　in　fuel　cells　for　the　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR)　and　demonstrated　a　half-wave　potential　(E1/2)　of　0.720　V　(vs.　RHE)　in　0.1　M　HClO4,　which　is　only　88　mV　lower　than　that　of　the　Pt/C　catalyst.　Our　results　prove　the　possibility　of　the　metal-organic　framework　(MOF)　activation　strategy　for　the　development　of　biomass-derived　porous　carbon　materials.