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

Mesophase pitch has been synthesized from pure aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, 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.