The synthesis of carbon nanoparticles (Cn) and oxygen-doped nanocarbon (OCn) was successfully done through a one-step synthesis by the solution plasma process (SPP). The Cn and OCn were nitrogen-doped by nitridation under an ammonia atmosphere at 800 • C for 2 h to yield NCn and NOCn, respectively, for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) adsorption. The NOCn exhibited the highest specific surface area (~570 m 2 g −1 ) and highest CO 2 adsorption capacity (1.63 mmol g −1 at 25 • C) among the synthesized samples. The primary nitrogen species on the surface of NOCn were pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N. The synergistic effect of microporosity and nitrogen functionality on the NOCn surface played an essential role in CO 2 adsorption enhancement. From the thermodynamic viewpoint, the CO 2 adsorption on NOCn was physisorption, exothermic, and spontaneous. The NOCn showed a more negative enthalpy of adsorption, indicating its stronger interaction for CO 2 on the surface, and hence, the higher adsorption capacity. The CO 2 adsorption on NOCn over the whole pressure range at 25-55 • C best fitted the Toth model, suggesting monolayer adsorption on the heterogeneous surface. In addition, NOCn expressed a higher selective CO 2 adsorption than Cn and so was a good candidate for multicycle adsorption.