Ethylene tar is a prospective precursor for preparing carbonaceous materials

which is regarded as a representative soft carbon material after carbonization. However

the introduction of oxygen can influence the morphology of the final carbonaceous materials. For the introduction of oxygen

dealkylation and dehydrogenation will be promoted and the molecules can be linked more effectively. For the subsequent carbonization

the biphenyl structures caused by the deoxygenation

via

the elimination of CO

2

as well as the reserved aromatic ether bonds

can facilitate the strong cross-linking

which will restrain the movement of the carbon layers and the formation of the graphitic structures. After the graphitization treatment at 2800 ℃

the oxidized pitch can lead to short-range ordered and long-range unordered structures

while the sample without oxidation can result in long-range ordered graphitic structures. It can be proved that a simple oxidation-carbonization treatment can transform ethylene tar into hard carbon structures.