Photo‐rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors: Critical roles of carbon‐based functional materials

Abstract

As a clean and renewable energy source, solar energy is a competitive alternative to replace conventional fossil fuels. Nevertheless, its serious fluctuating nature usually leads to a poor alignment with the actual energy demand. To solve this problem, the direct solar-to-electrochemical energy conversion and storage have been regarded as a feasible strategy. In this context, the development of high-performance integrated devices based on solar energy conversion parts (i.e., solar cells or photoelectrodes) and electrochemical energy storage units (i.e., rechargeable batteries or supercapacitors [SCs]) has become increasingly necessary and urgent, in which carbon and carbon-based functional materials play a fundamental role in determining their energy conversion/storage performances. Herein, we summarize the latest progress on these integrated devices for solar electricity energy conversion and storage, with special emphasis on the critical role of carbon-based functional materials. First, principles of integrated devices are introduced, especially roles of carbon-based materials in these hybrid energy devices. Then, two major types of important integrated devices, including photovoltaic and photoelectrochemicalrechargeable batteries or SCs, are discussed in detail. Finally, key challenges and opportunities in the future development are also discussed. By this review, we hope to pave an avenue toward the development of stable and efficient devices for solar energy conversion and storage. K E Y W O R D S carbon-based materials, electrochemical energy storage, integrated devices, photoelectric conversion, solar energyThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cu-Ion-Implanted and Polymeric Carbon Nitride-Decorated TiO2 Nanotube Array for Unassisted Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

“…To better demonstrate the feasibility of this Ti-mesh-supported PCN/Cu-TNA as the photoanode for unassisted PEC water splitting, it was then coupled with a Cs 0.05 (MA 0.17 FA 0.83 ) 0.95 Pb­(I 0.83 Br 0.17 ) 3 -based PSC to form a prototype hybrid cell, which is supposed to be more energy-efficient than the traditional PEC water splitting because it does not need any external bias or energy input other than solar energy. − The light absorption range of the PSC used in this work is up to 780 nm (Figure S11), and the J – V curve and performance parameters of the PSC are described in Figure S12.…”

Integrated Photovoltaic Charging and Energy Storage Systems: Mechanism, Optimization, and Future

“…Other issues in considering Ru-based dyes are their cost, as ruthenium is a rare metal that is expensive and toxic and they also have limited near-infrared absorption. [64][65][66] Another photoelectrode material, semiconductor-based photocatalyst is the core part of SPRBs device, which absorbs sunlight and provides driving force for Photoelectrochemical reaction. Semiconductors used as photoelectrodes include metal oxides, IV, III-V compounds, and metallic chalcogenides.…”

“…[185] The energy storage devices that connect solar cells and metal ion batteries through external circuits have also been extensively studied. [65,[186][187][188] However, this approach inevitably brings energy loss due to energy level mismatch and circuit resistance. The construction of integrated ASSPB is its future direction.…”

Polysaccharides Composite Materials as Carbon Nanoparticles Carrier

“…Due to the diversity of both physical and chemical synthesis methods, chemical inertness, low toxicity, photo-induced electron transfer, highly tunable photoluminescence behavior and biocompatibility make carbon dots a promising replacement for semiconductor quantum dots. CQDs find applications in industries such as LEDs [ 40 , 41 , 42 ], biosensors [ 43 , 44 ] and supercapacitors [ 45 , 46 ]. They possess highly desirable properties as semiconductor nanoparticles and are promising nanomaterials for photocatalysis, ion sensing, biological imaging, heavy metal detection, adsorption treatment, supercapacitors, membrane fabrication and water purification.…”