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Hybrid systems have gained significant attention among researchers and scientists worldwide due to their ability to integrate solar cells and supercapacitors. Subsequently, this has led to rising demands for green energy, miniaturization and mini-electronic wearable devices. These hybrid devices will lead to sustainable energy becoming viable and fossil-fuel-based sources of energy gradually being replaced. A solar photovoltaic (SPV) system is an electronic device that mainly functions to convert photon energy to electrical energy using a solar power source. It has been widely used in developed countries given that they have advanced photovoltaic (PV) technology that reduces dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation. Furthermore, a supercapacitor is an alternative solution for replacing heavy batteries and it is a system with a prominent high power density and a long life cycle. Its unique properties of high capacitance with low voltage limits lead to this highly in-demand material being incorporated into goods and services that are produced by the electrical and electronics industries. It is another option for grid-based power or large batteries. Since supercapacitors have the ability to store huge amounts of energy, they allow for a novel system that integrates supercapacitors with solar cells in which energy generation and energy storage are combined into one system. This paper explores the common materials that are used for solar cells and supercapacitors, the working mechanisms, the effectiveness of the integrated device and the technical challenges that are encountered when refining this device. Hence, this review serves as a guide for choosing the right materials and methods in order to produce an integrated PV solar cell–energy storage device for various applications.

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In natural seawater, pure aluminum develops oxide layer which forms a barrier, protecting against corrosion. Alloying with other elements prevents the development of oxide layer by introducing localized galvanic cells. Different aluminum alloys exhibit different electrochemical behavior. The scope of the project was to study the electrochemical behavior of different chemical composition of aluminum alloys in natural seawater. The significance of understanding the corrosion behavior of aluminum alloys is essential in the fabrication of sacrificial anodes to be used in cathodic protection in corrosion control. Aluminum alloys were fabricated using alloying elements Zn, Sn, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Si. Divided into two groups, samples of aluminum alloys in Group 1 contain same weight percent of Zn, and different weight percent of Sn. Aluminum alloy samples in Group 2 contains same weight percent of Mg, Cu, Fe and Si with different weight percent of Sn. The samples were then subjected to corrosion behavior experimentation which includes Tafel plot, corrosion potential and potentiodynamic scan. It was found that alloying with Mg, Cu, Fe, and Si instead of alloying only with Zn and Sn further increases the negative potential, the density of particle distribution and further reduces the corrosion rate of aluminum alloys. The activeness of aluminum alloys also increases when alloyed with Zn, Sn, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Si.