Chemistry of synthesis, structure, preparation and application of aromatic-derived mesophase pitch

Mesophase pitch has been synthesized from pure aromatic hydrocarbons (naphtharene, methylnaphthalene) aided by an HF-BF3 catalyst. These synthesized pitches have better performance for many applications - carbon fibers, binders, and anode materials for lithium ion batteries etc. - because the purity and high aromaticity leads to high orientation. This paper discusses the kinds of pitch, the micro- to macrostructure, some properties, reactivity, and many applications. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.