Abstract
Interest in carbon fibers (CFs) is due to their chemical properties, high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, which makes them promising candidates for various kinds of practical applications. The need to develop low-cost technologies for producing CFs is a major factor in research in this area. Currently, the widespread commercial use of CFs is limited by their high cost, which primarily depends on the type of carbon feedstock. Conventional methods for producing CFs use expensive raw materials such as hydrocarbons and graphite. A possible solution to this problem is the use of coal, petroleum and coal tar as an effective precursor to produce CFs. The review examines recent progress in the synthesis of CFs using petroleum and coal tar and details the prospects for their application in the energy sector and as a structural material for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds. In addition, methods for improving the chemical and structural properties of these CFs have been reviewed and described.