Carbon materials, such as graphite, possess excellent mechanical and thermal properties, making them widely used in aerospace, electronics, and energy. Investigating their fundamental physical and chemical properties is of great significance for the preparation and application of advanced carbon materials. Current research includes:

(1) the theory of liquid-phase carbonization and the structure–property relationship of mesophase pitch;

(2) the thermal properties of graphite;

(3) the formation and evolution of crystal defects in graphite.

High-purity carbon materials are widely used in semiconductor and nuclear engineering fields. Our current research in this area focuses on the following aspects:

(1) mechanisms of high-temperature purification and reactions between impurities and halogen radicals;

(2) fabrication of high-purity isostatic graphite;

(3) preparation of high-purity rayon-based carbon fiber felt for photovoltaic and semiconductor applications;

(4) preparation of high-purity natural flake/microcrystalline graphite

Isostatic graphite is a widely used structural material with applications in photovoltaics, machinery, aerospace, and nuclear energy. Building on Hunan University’s expertise in carbon materials, we have been carrying out the following research work:

(1) preparation of fine-structured isostatic graphite;

(2) preparation of isotropic graphite with a low coefficient of thermal expansion;

(3) porous graphite materials;

(4) graphite/ceramic composites.

Nuclear-grade graphite is a core structural material and one of the fundamental components of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs). Its irradiation performance directly affects the service life of HTGRs, meaning that improving graphite properties is key to enhancing overall reactor performance. Evaluating and characterizing the performance and structure of nuclear-grade graphite will provide a basis for reactor core design and establish a theoretical foundation for predicting graphite behavior within reactors. Research includes:

(1) characterization of the multi-scale microstructure of nuclear-grade graphite;

(2) friction and wear properties of nuclear-grade graphite;

(3) mechanical properties of nuclear-grade graphite;

(4) graphite matrix and its modification for spherical fuel elements in high-temperature gas-cooled reactors

(1)Advanced processing of natural graphite;

(2)Carbon materials for energy storage;

(3)Thermoelectric applications of carbon materials: Recruiting master’s students for a joint training program between the College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University and the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SICCAS)