Carbon materials have been applied in different fields because of their unique performances. Naturally, the physical and chemical structures of carbon precursors and carbon materials decide their properties and applications. Catalysts play a very important role in the synthesis of carbon precursors and carbon materials by controlling the molecular and compositional chemistry at the transformation of organic substrates into carbon through carbonaceous intermediates. Carbon materials of high performance and low production cost can be realized, through carefully selecting suitable catalysts and catalytic processes in the synthesis of carbon feed, carbonization, activation, graphitization, and modification of carbon precursors, and carbon growth.
catalyst; mesophase pitch; carbon nano fiber; activated carbon; graphitization