Laser-Assisted Fabrication of Microphotocapacitors with High Energy Density and Output Voltage

Recent Advances in Photochargeable Integrated and All-in-One Supercapacitor Devices

Photoassisted energy storage systems, which enable both the conversion and storage of solar energy, have attracted attention in recent years. These systems, which started about 20 years ago with the individual production of dye-sensitized solar cells and capacitors and their integration, today allow more compact and cost-effective designs using dual-acting electrodes. Solar-assisted batterylike or hybrid supercapacitors have also shown promise with their high energy densities. This review summarizes all of these device designs and conveys the cutting-edge studies in this field. Besides, this review aims to emphasize the effects of point, extrinsic, intrinsic, and 2D-planar defects on the performance of photoassisted energy storage systems since it is known that defect structures, as well as electrical, optical, and surface properties, affect the device performance. Here, it is also targeted to draw attention to how critical the design, material selection, and material properties are for these new-generation energy conversion and storage devices, which have a high potential to see commercial examples quickly and to be recognized by more readers.

Progress of Photocapacitors

In response to the current trend of miniaturization of electronic devices and sensors, the complementary coupling of high-efficiency energy conversion and low-loss energy storage technologies has given rise to the development of photocapacitors (PCs), which combine energy conversion and storage in a single device. Photovoltaic systems integrated with supercapacitors offer unique light conversion and storage capabilities, resulting in improved overall efficiency over the past decade. Consequently, researchers have explored a wide range of device combinations, materials, and characterization techniques. This review provides a comprehensive overview of photocapacitors, including their configurations, operating mechanisms, manufacturing techniques, and materials, with a focus on emerging applications in small wireless devices, Internet of Things (IoT), and Internet of Everything (IoE). Furthermore, we highlight the importance of cutting-edge materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and organic materials for supercapacitors, as well as novel materials in photovoltaics, in advancing PCs for a carbon-free, sustainable society. We also evaluate the potential development, prospects, and application scenarios of this emerging area of research.