Recent Advances in the Research of Photo‐Assisted Lithium‐Based Rechargeable Batteries

Abstract

The application of solar energy is crucial for alleviating the energy crisis and achieving sustainable development. In recent years, photo‐assisted rechargeable batteries have attracted researchers because they can directly convert and store solar energy in the batteries. And it also can be used like a normal battery without light illumination. Photo‐assisted lithium‐based batteries have received more attention than other energy storage systems due to their higher energy density and relatively mature development. This Review focuses on the design of various photo‐assisted lithium‐based batteries including Li‐ion, Li‐S, Li‐O2, Li‐CO2 and Li‐I batteries, as well as the working mechanism of photoelectrodes in these battery systems. The basic understanding and challenge of photo‐assisted lithium‐based batteries are also discussed. At last, perspectives for the photoelectrode development are provided in the summary to advance photo‐assisted energy storage systems.

Integrated Solar Batteries: Design and Device Concepts

“…Note that for all these reported battery designs no pure photocharging is possible, since photoexcited electrons do not have a larger potential than the very negative electrode potential of M x + /M. We recommend the following reviews for the interested reader to dive further into this exciting research field. ,− …”

“…However, recently the field of solar batteries has moved toward a single material performing both light absorption and charge storage. While this design presents the highest level of integration, it is simultaneously the most difficult and comes with both conceptual and practical challenges. ,,,,− This is because a material must function both as a light absorber and as a mixed electronic–ionic conductor (MIEC) to harvest light, shuttle electronic charges, and store ionic chargescomplex photophysical effects which must occur simultaneously. Bifunctional materials exist for both cathodes and anodes, although by far, more exist for cathodes than for anodes.…”

A perspective on photoelectrochemical storage materials for coupled solar batteries

“…13 Unlike integrated solar batteries, coupled solar batteries that couple photoelectric conversion unit and electrochemical redox unit at one photoelectrochemical storage electrode can enable direct and flexible solar energy storage, making it potentially applicable to a variety of fields, such as electric vehicles, mobile/ portable electronic devices, and many other areas. 1,8,20,21,[30][31][32][33][34] Several studies have explored the concept of coupled solar batteries, inspired by a related work in 1976 that utilized a three-electrode battery configuration, 35 with a S/S 2À cathode, an Ag 2 S/Ag anode, and a polycrystalline CdSe photoelectrode. However, this approach was limited by issues such as toxicity, complex device structure, high cost, and low energy conversion efficiency.…”

Progress and Prospect of Zn Anode Modification in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Experimental and Theoretical Aspects

“…To date, ZIBs have gradually attracted the attention of researchers. In addition, the researchers have suggested that the use of light-assisted materials in batteries can directly introduce light into batteries and reduce energy loss in many intermediate conversion processes [ 18 ]. In 2018, Dai et al reported the development of a photo-assisted zinc-air battery using a photo-responsive dual-function ORR/OER electrocatalyst [ 19 ].…”