Formation of graphite structure in carbon crystallites

The formation of graphite structure in carbon crystallites 0.2 to 100 nm in size is examined. It is shown that the energetically favorable structure of such crystallites differs from that of graphite. The interatomic distances and interplanar spacing d(002) in the crystallites depend on their in-plane dimension L-a. A model is proposed according to which the only mechanism of graphitization in microcrystalline carbon materials is crystallite growth.