Preparation of mesocarbon microbeads and microstructure evolution

Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) were prepared by heating a medium coal tar pitch at 420degC for 2 hours, with the P-toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA) and the phenyl silicone oil as the catalyst and the reaction medium respectively. After the oxidative stabilization of MCMB, the oxygen content and the number of functional groups are increased, while the micro-crystal structures become worse. However, after the successive carbonization and graphitization, the oxygen content and the number of functional groups are decreased, the micro-crystal structures become well, and the yields are decreased.