Novel　poly(N-ethylaniline)/lignosulfonate　(PNA-LS)　composites　were　prepared　via　an　in　situ　polymerization　of　N-ethylaniline　(NA)　with　lignosulfonate　(LS)　as　a　dispersant.　Nitrogen-containing　carbon　materials　were　obtained　by　direct　pyrolysis　of　the　PNA-LS　composites　at　the　pyrolytic　temperatures　ranging　from　300　degrees　C　to　1200　degrees　C.　The　as-prepared　PNA-LS　composites　and　their　carbon　materials　were　investigated　by　TGA,　SEM,　TEM,　FTIR　and　UV-vis　spectra,　XRD　and　elemental　analysis.　The　results　showed　that　the　morphology,　structure　and　properties　of　the　PNA-LS　composites　were　depended　on　the　LS:NA　mass　ratio.　PNA-LS　microspheres　with　an　average　diameter　of　1300　nm　could　be　fabricated　when　the　LS:NA　mass　ratio　was　2.5:97.5,　while　regular　hexagon　sheets　of　PNA-LS　composite　were　obtained　with　the　LS:NA　mass　ratio　above　5:95.　Furthermore,　nitrogen-containing　carbon　nanospheres　with　an　average　diameter　of　820　nm　were　achieved　at　the　carbonization　temperature　of　800　degrees　C.　(c)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.