Pitch-Based Carbon Fiber Composites: From Interfacial Engineering to Advanced Thermal Management and Energy Storage

Pitch-based carbon fibers are gaining significant attention as next-generation structural and functional materials owing to their ultrahigh thermal conductivity and exceptional elastic modulus, which surpass those of conventional polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers. However, their inherent brittleness and poor interfacial bonding with various matrices pose significant challenges for the practical fabrication of composites. This review provides a comprehensive overview encompassing the entire "materials-processing-applications" cycle of pitch-based carbon fiber composites. We systematically evaluated state-of-the-art surface modification strategies, including wet chemical oxidation, plasma treatment, and bioderived coatings, designed to maximize interfacial adhesion. Subsequently, we discuss tailored manufacturing processes for thermoplastic, thermosetting, and carbon-carbon composite systems. Furthermore, we highlight recent breakthroughs in advanced applications, focusing on high-efficiency thermal interface materials, hierarchical porous supercapacitor electrodes, and thermally conductive metal matrix composites. Finally, we provide insightful perspectives on overcoming current manufacturing bottlenecks and emphasize the explosive application potential of pitch-based carbon fiber composites in next-generation mobility and precision engineering systems that require extreme performance boundaries.