Progress in the graphitization and applications of modified resin carbons

Resin carbons have favorable mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, and are widely used as structural and functional materials in aviation, aerospace and energy storage, etc. The inherent molecular structures of resins make their graphitization difficult, which greatly limits wide applications. Research progress on the graphitization and applications of resin carbons in recent years are reviewed. Their graphitized carbon content can be increased and their graphitization temperature reduced by adding catalysts, carbon nanomaterials and easily graphitized co-carbonization agents. Most studies have been devoted to increasing their graphitized carbon content using catalysts and carbon nanomaterials. The degree of graphitization of resin carbons at temperatures below 1 400 °C can reach 74% by adding a catalyst, and above 2 000 °C by adding carbon nanomaterials. Co-carbonization agents may increase their degree of graphitization and also their carbon yield. The thermal and electrical conductivities of carbon/carbon composites could be improved by increasing the degree of graphitization of resin carbons, and this would improve the conductivity, rate performance and power density of supercapacitors and secondary batteries. Challenges and research prospects for the graphitization of resin carbons and their applications are discussed.