Structural engineering of pitch-based porous carbon and its application in supercapacitors: A review

The fabrication of pitch-based porous carbon (PBPC) electrodes is a win-win strategy for the utilization of coal tar pitch (CTP) and the development of supercapacitors. In recent years, strategies such as pore structure adjustment, morphology design, optimization of surface chemical states, and loading of transition metal compounds have become prevalent in PBPC structural engineering, with over 300 related references available. In this review, we delved into the intrinsic mechanisms underlying above four approaches, examining how they related to the composition, phase and reactivity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in CTP and graphitization degree of PBPC. Then, the existing studies of PBPC electrodes were summarized and discussed according to different preparation technologies. Moreover, electrochemical properties of supercapacitors containing PBPC electrodes were also compared and analyzed. Finally, we discussed the limitations and future trends of PBPC electrodes in these different strategies.