Research progress on the characterization of mesophase pitch

Mesophase pitch consists of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with optical anisotropy, which is an important precursor for high-performance industrial carbons. Characterizing the structures and properties of mesophase pitch plays a significant role in its quality control, process optimization and applications. This review summarizes research advances in mesophase pitch characterization, including chemical structure, molecular weight, domain structure and rheological property. The future techniques in mesophase pitch characterization are briefly discussed.