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Anionic chemistry modulation represents a promising avenue to enhance the electrochemical performance and unlock versatile applications in cutting‐edge energy storage devices. Herein, we propose a methodology that involves anionic chemistry of carbonate anions to tailor the electrochemical oxidation‐reduction reactions of bismuth (Bi) electrodes, where the conversion energy barrier for Bi (0) to Bi (III) has been significantly reduced, endowing anionic full batteries with enhanced electrochemical kinetics and chemical self‐charging property. The elaborately designed batteries with an air‐switch demonstrate rapid self‐recharging capabilities, recovering over 80 % of the electrochemical full charging capacity within a remarkably short timeframe of 1 hour and achieving a cumulative self‐charging capacity of 5 Ah g−1. The aqueous self‐charging battery strategy induced by carbonate anion, as proposed in this study, holds the potential for extending to various anionic systems, including seawater‐based Cl− ion batteries. This work offers a universal framework for advancing next‐generation multi‐functional power sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild aqueous Zn batteries (AZBs) generally suffer a low‐voltage/energy dilemma, which compromises their competitiveness for large‐scale energy storage. Pushing Zn anode potential downshift is an admissible yet underappreciated approach for high‐voltage/energy AZBs. Herein, with a mild hybrid electrolyte containing in situ‐derived diluted strongly‐coordinated Zn2+‐cosolvent pairs, a considerable Zn anode potential downshift is initially achieved for high‐voltage Zn‐based hybrid batteries. The chosen butylpyridine cosolvent not only strongly coordinates Zn2+ ions but also acts as a hydrogen‐bond end‐capping agent to inhibit hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrolyte environment with hetero‐solvation‐diluted strongly‐coordinated Zn2+‐cosolvent pairs remarkably lowers Zn2+ activity, responsible for the Zn electrode potential downshift (−0.330 V vs Zn), confirming to modified Nernst law (ΔE = RTnF$\frac{{RT}}{{nF}}$ln[a(Zn2 +)/a(coordinated solvent)]). With the diluted Zn2+‐containing hybrid electrolyte, the Zn//Zn symmetric cell in the hybrid electrolyte shows a long lifespan over 1270 h at a stripping/plating capacity of 0.4 mA h cm−2. Compared with in common hybrid electrolytes, the as‐assembled Zn‐MnO2 hybrid battery delivers a ca. 0.278 V enhanced voltage plateau (1.57 V) and a long‐term cyclability of over 736 cycles. This work opens a new avenue toward Zn anode potential downshift for high‐voltage AZBs, which can extend to other mild metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable aqueous calcium‐ion batteries (CIBs) are promising for reliable large‐scale energy storage. However, they face significant challenges, primarily stemming from suboptimal anodes, resulting in unfavorable voltage profiles, limited capacity, and diminished durability, all of which hinder the development of CIBs. Here, a covalent organic framework (PTHAT‐COF) featuring repeated pyrazine and pyridinamine units, employed as the anode material for aqueous CIBs, is introduced. This innovative approach results in a remarkably flat ultralow potential plateau ranging from −0.6 to −1.05 V (vs Ag/AgCl), attributed to the high level of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. Furthermore, the PTHAT‐COF anode exhibits outstanding rate performance (152.3 mAh g−1 @ 1 A g−1), exceptional long‐term cycling stability, and remarkable capacity retention (10 000 cycles with 89.9% retention). Mechanistic studies, including experimental and theoretical calculations, reveal that C═N active sites reversibly trap Ca2+ ions via chemisorption during the discharging/charging process. The PTHAT‐COF demonstrates exceptional structural stability throughout cycling. Finally, by pairing PTHAT‐COF with a high‐voltage manganese‐based Prussian blue cathode, a complete aqueous CIB with a voltage interval of 2.2 V is achieved, exhibiting extraordinary durability (10 000 cycles with 83.6% retention). This research illuminates the potential of organic anode materials in aqueous batteries to achieve higher battery voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high abundance of their components, low cost, and high safety, zinc‐based batteries open up new vistas for large‐scale energy storage. However, their stability, lifetime, and reversibility are impaired by passivation and dendrite growth of the Zn anode. Here, this challenge is circumvented by an iodine post‐functionalized zeolitic imidazolate framework‐90 (ZIF‐90‐I) additive, in which the polycation absorbed on Zn anode can regulate solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation in the 1 m Zn(TFSI)2 electrolyte and induce Zn2+ uniform deposition. Moreover, the I3−/I− redox can rejuvenate dead Zn and inhibit dendrites. With the ZIF‐90‐I additive, Zn plating/stripping at 99.5% Coulombic efficiency for 120 cycles is obtained in Zn||Ti cells at 20 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2. In addition, Zn||Zn cells show steady cycling for 1200 h at 5 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2 with stable overpotentials. The utilization rate of Zn reaches up to 68.6%. In situ optical microscopy reveals smooth, uniform Zn plating, and the Zn‐rejuvenated function from the I3−/I− redox couple. The refreshed SEI with the increase of Zn‐rich complexes, and nitrides from adsorbed polycations, are uniform and ZnF2‐rich in the Zn(TFSI)2 + ZIF‐90‐I electrolyte. The full Zn||air cells in Zn(TFSI)2 + ZIF‐90‐I electrolyte exhibit excellent cycling stability with stable polarization voltage at 0.1 mA/0.05 mAh cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous iron batteries are appealing candidates for large-scale energy storage due to their safety and low-cost aspects. However, the development of aqueous Fe batteries is hindered by their inadequate long-term cycling stability. Here, we propose the synthesis and application as positive electrode active material of cross-linked polyaniline (C-PANI). We use melamine as the crosslinker to improve the electronical conductivity and electrochemical stability of the C-PANI. Indeed, when the C-PANI is tested in combination with a Fe metal negative electrode and 1 M iron trifluoromethanesulfonate (Fe(TOF)2) electrolyte solution, the coin cell can deliver a specific capacity of about 110 mAh g−1 and an average discharge voltage of 0.55 V after 39,000 cycles at 25 A g−1 with a test temperature of 28 °C ± 1 °C. Furthermore, mechanistic studies suggest that Fe2+ ions are bonded to TOF− anions to form positively charged complexes Fe(TOF)+, which are stored with protons in the C-PANI electrode structures. Finally, we also demonstrate the use of C-PANI in combination with a polymeric hydrogel electrolyte to produce a flexible reflective electrochromic lab-scale iron battery prototype. Aqueous iron batteries are safe and cost-effective candidates for large-scale energy storage. However, their long-term cycling stability is inadequate. Here, the authors propose a crosslinked polyaniline-based positive electrode for high-power aqueous iron batteries with electrochromic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normally, hydrogel electrolytes widely used in flexible energy storage devices have limited tolerance to different pHs. Most gel electrolytes will lose their compressible capability when the adaptable pH is changed. Herein, a poly(acrylamide3‐co‐(sulfobetaine methacrylate)1)@polyacrylamide (P(A3‐co‐S1)@PAM) hydrogel electrolyte equipped with a dual crosslinking network (DN) is successfully fabricated, which exhibits excellent tolerance to any pHs, endowing various energy storage devices including batteries and supercapacitors with superior mechanical durability. The batteries with mild and alkaline P(A3‐co‐S1)@PAM electrolytes display superior stability (over 3000 cycles). Additionally, a Zn||MnO2 battery based on the P(A3‐co‐S1)@PAM hydrogel electrolyte (mild) under 50% compression strain also shows excellent charge–discharge stability and high capacity at 152.4 mAh g−1 after 600 cycles. The strong reversible hydrogen bonds and electrostatic forces originating from zwitterionic structures of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) play an important role in dissipating and dispersing energy imposed abruptly. Meanwhile, the zwitterionic structure and intermolecular NH⋯OC hydrogen bonds of the hydrogel lead to the property of acid resistance and alkali resistance. The tough and robust covalent crosslinking bonds and the tight arrangement of DN polymer chains enable the hydrogel electrolytes to recover their initial shape fast once unloading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous rechargeable batteries (ARBs) are considered promising electrochemical energy storage systems for grid‐scale applications due to their low cost, high safety, and environmental benignity. With the demand for a wide range of application scenarios, batteries are required to work in various harsh conditions, especially the cold weather. Nevertheless, electrolytes would freeze at extremely low temperatures, resulting in dramatically sluggish kinetics and severe performance degradation. Here, we discuss the behaviors of hydrogen bonds and basic principles of anti‐freezing mechanisms in aqueous electrolytes. Then, we present a systematical review of the optimization strategies of electrolytes for low‐temperature aqueous batteries. Finally, the challenges and promising routes for further development of aqueous low‐temperature electrolytes are provided. This review can serve as a comprehensive reference to boost the further development and practical applications of advanced ARBs operated at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The MoS 2 /V 2 O 5 composite cathode is successfully constructed by one-step ball milling. • The unique in-situ conversion mechanism allows the obtained MoO 3 /V 2 O 5 cathode to achieve superior electrochemical performance. • The potentiality of rapidly constructing composite cathodes by ball milling is confirmed. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have advantages of high safety, friendly environment, low cost, and can be applied to large-scale energy storage. To prepare high-performance cathode materials easily and quickly is still one of the development directions. Based on the principle that two-dimensional layered materials can be thinned layer-by-layer via mechanical force, the molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2)-based cathodes are prepared by one-step ball milling. The shear force and shockwave generated during ball milling effectively promote the preparation of MoS 2 /V 2 O 5 cathode materials. X-ray diffraction, Raman, and infrared tests confirm the presence of both MoS 2 and V 2 O 5 components in the prepared MoS 2 /V 2 O 5. The presence of metallic phase 1T-MoS 2 in the MoS 2 /V 2 O 5 is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Via a charging conversion mechanism, the obtained MoO 3 /V 2 O 5 cathode has a high capacity of 417.4 mAh g −1, good rate performance (83.6 mAh g −1 at 10 A g −1), high energy and power densities (83.6 Wh kg−1 at 10,032 W kg−1). This study provides a new idea for constructing two-dimensional material-based cathodes by ball milling. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Three challenges remain unsettled for current flexible energy storage devices. One is that most developed devices are not soft enough to conform various deformations; another is that they can hardly guarantee a stable energy output when being dynamically deformed―most of the ever-reported tests on flexibility are performed under static conditions; the third is that they lack sufficient toughness at device level, meaning they are vulnerable to severe mechanical stresses. We believe these problems must be well settled before wearable devices can be practically applied. Here we report a hydrogel with excellent energy-dissipating ability that can be simultaneously used as high-performance electrolyte, super-tough separator and highly effective electrode protector for supercapacitors. The developed supercapacitor is highly soft and super tough at device level. It can well maintain its stable output when being dynamically bent and exhibits high resistance to severe mechanical stimuli including blade-cut, hammering, etc. It can be arbitrarily deformed into irregular shapes while keeping original performances. Moreover, it can even survive extremely harsh conditions including 6 days' treading and 50 times of car run-over without notable deterioration in capacitance and long-term stability. This super tough supercapacitor shows great potential in truly wearable applications involving severe mechanical stresses and impacts. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • A dual-crosslinked hydrogel with enhanced modulus and superior energy dissipation capability is developed. • The hydrogel functions as high-performance electrolyte, super-tough separator and highly effective electrode protector. • The resultant supercapacitor shows high resistance to various dynamic mechanical stimuli. • The supercapacitor is highly flexible and arbitrarily deformable. • The supercapacitor exhibits super toughness to endure catastrophic mechanical impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The pursuit of new categories of active materials as electrodes of supercapacitors remains a great challenge. Herein, for the first time, elemental boron as a superior electrode material of supercapacitors is reported, which exhibits significantly high capacitances and excellent rate performance in all alkaline, neutral, and acidic electrolytes. Notably, boron nanowire‐carbon fiber cloth (BNWs‐CFC) electrodes achieve a capacitance up to 42.8 mF cm−2 at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1 and 60.2 mF cm−2 at a current density of 0.2 mA cm−2 in the acidic electrolyte. Moreover, in all these three kinds of electrolytes, BNWs‐CFC electrodes demonstrate a decent cycling stability with >80% capacitance retention after 8000 charging/discharging cycles. The Dominating energy storage mechanism of BNWs in the different electrolytes is analyzed by looking into the kinetics of the electrochemical process. Subsequently, the BNWs‐CFC electrode is used to fabricate a flexible solid‐state supercapacitor, which reveals a specific capacitance up to 22.73 mF cm−2 and good mechanical performance after 1000 bending cycles. This study opens a new avenue to explore elemental boron‐based new nanomaterials for the application of energy storage with superior electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the environment on the energy storage of supercapacitors as well as the underlying mechanisms have long been neglected. This paper reports that the capacitance of hexagonal-phase tungsten oxide (h-WO3)-based supercapacitors increases by ≈17% under solar light. Thorough analyses of the wavelength dependence of the enhancement, capacitive mechanism, energy storage dynamics, and impedance reveal that: i) photoexcited electrons are responsible for the enhancement; ii) the insertion of protons into the large hexagonal tunnels of h-WO3, instead of a surface capacitive process, is greatly facilitated by the photoexcited electrons; iii) the theoretical light-induced capacitance enhancement can reach up to 38% for a h-WO3-based supercapacitor. Moreover, as an application of this finding, a self-powered photodetector based on a h-WO3 supercapacitor is fabricated, wherein the photoexcited electrons serve as the signal for detecting solar light. The device works without an external power source and can be considered as an ultimately integrated power source-sensor system. This work sheds light on the interaction between solar light and a semiconductor-based supercapacitor as well as the concrete mechanisms behind the phenomenon. These efforts also open the door to the design of highly integrated, brand-new power source-sensor systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐temperature aqueous zinc batteries have recently garnered significant attention for large‐scale energy storage. However, spontaneous hydrogen evolution and passivation on the Zn metal anode severely affect its cycling stability under elevated temperature conditions. Herein, a facile strategy is employed to construct a bifunctional composite protective layer comprising an insulating ZnF2 layer combined with Zn affinity conductive tin (Sn) metal. This combination optimally distributes Zn ions (Zn2+) and maintains consistent thermal field distribution around Zn anodes. Moreover, the presence of fluorides on the interface efficiently suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction, while the Sn metal serves as nucleation seeds with reversible alloying and dealloying process to endow dendrite‐free morphology and fast reaction kinetics. Specifically, the symmetric cell with the coated electrode exhibits excellent stability at a current density of 3 mA cm−2 over 420 h at 50 °C. When coupled with the modified Zn anode and I2 cathode, the Zn//I2 full cells deliver high areal capacity and substantiate their practical application, exhibiting remarkable high‐temperature resilience over 2000 cycles with 97.8% capacity retained at 50 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel materials are receiving increasing research interest due to their intriguing structures that consist of a crosslinked network of polymer chains with interstitial spaces filled with solvent water. This feature endows the materials with the characteristics of being both wet and soft, making them ideal candidates for electrolyte materials for flexible energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries that are under intensive studies nowadays. More importantly, the highly abundant and tunable chemistries of these hydrogels allow the introduction of novel functionalities into the existing hydrogels so that it is possible to fabricate unprecedented energy storage devices with additional functions. Here, the state‐of‐the‐art advances of the hydrogel materials for flexible energy storage devices including supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries are reviewed. In addition, devices with various kinds of functions, such as self‐healing, shape memory, and stretchability, are also included to stress the critical role of hydrogel materials. Furthermore, the challenges embedded in the current technologies are also highlighted and discussed with the hope to continually boost future research for the fast‐developing field. Hydrogel‐based electrolytes, as one of the core components in energy storage devices, introduce flexibility and additional functions, such as stretchability and self‐healing, to the devices. Consequently, improved adaptability to sophisticated and dynamic working environments could be endowed with the devices. The recent advancement of hydrogel‐based electrolytes for flexible and functional energy storage devices is reviewed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable attention has been drawn to flexible and wearable energy‐storage devices due to the blooming of portable and wearable electronics in recent years. However, huge challenges are yet to be addressed before the need of both high flexibility and high performance can be met. With many desired features for wearable applications, textiles have become a growing research frontier where scientific views from various fields collide, sparking new ideas. Here, recent research progress in energy‐storage textiles (ESTs), in which textiles are employed to enhance either electrochemical performance or flexibility and wearability, is summarized. The research of ESTs is mainly divided into three parts, with a focus on supercapacitors, lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), and some other representative battery systems, respectively. Electrode preparation, cell assembly, device performance, and the remaining challenges are discussed in detail, aiming to provide insights for future development. Energy‐storage textiles have received tremendous attention due to their advantages in wearable applications. An overview of current designs of energy‐storage textiles is presented, with focus on supercapacitors, lithium‐ion batteries, and some other promising battery systems. Electrode fabrication, cell assembly, device performance, and flexibility demonstration, for example, are discussed. Challenges and perspectives of future development are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double-stranded block copolymers containing ionic conductive and strong polar segments were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization, and self-assembled into the hollow sphere nanostructure. These block copolymers displayed high dielectric constant of 25, low dielectric loss of 0.02, enhanced stored/released energy density of 2.60/2.38 J cm −3 at 245 MV m −1 , and good charge-discharge efficiency of 91.5%, which were much better than those of double-stranded block copolymers without the strong polar substituents on the aromatic linker. The excellent dielectric properties of copolymers were attributed to the combination of strong dipolar, ionic, and interfacial polarizations, as well as the well-defined nanostructure to effectively inhibit the leakage current of the conductive domains by the insulating blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium/sulfur (Li/S) battery is a promising next-generation energy storage system owing to its high theoretical energy density. However, for practical use there remains some key problems to be solved, such as low active material utilization and rapid capacity fading, especially at high areal sulfur loadings. Here, we report a facile one-pot method to prepare porous three-dimensional nitrogen, sulfur-codoped graphene through hydrothermal reduction of graphene oxide with multi-ion mixture modulation. We show solid evidence that the results of multi-ion mixture modulation can not only improve the surface affinity of the nanocarbons to polysulfides, but also alter their assembling manner and render the resultant 3D network a more favorable pore morphology for accommodating and confining sulfur. It also had an excellent rate performance and cycling stability, showing an initial capacity of 1304 mA h g −1 at 0.05C, 613 mA h g −1 at 5C and maintaining a reversible capacity of 462 mA h g −1 after 1500 cycles at 2C with capacity fading as low as 0.028% per cycle. Moreover, a high areal capacity of 5.1 mA h cm −2 at 0.2C is achieved at an areal sulfur loading of 6.3 mg cm −2 , which are the best values reported so far for dual-doped sulfur cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Conjugated cobalt polyphthalocyanine with defective π-π extended structure (D-CoPPc) is prepared. • The macromolecular structure of D-CoPPc guarantees robust structural stability. • The introduced irregular structural defects feature to promote the diffusion of oxygen. • Li-O 2 battery with D-CoPPc as catalyst achieves a high discharge voltage of 2.55 V and superior cycling stability. The urgent demand for high-energy and high-power energy storage devices initiates considerable interest for Li-O 2 batteries. Considering the catalytic reaction that happened on the cathode, the electrocatalyst plays a key role in deciding the performance of Li-O 2 batteries. Herein, a cobalt polyphthalocyanine with defective polymeric layered structure (D-CoPPc) is prepared by an annealing treatment. The macromolecular structure of D-CoPPc overcomes the dissolution of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) therefore guarantying structural stability. Such a distinctive structure provides imperative features for Li-O 2 batteries involving the intrinsic high catalytic activity of CoPc unit, high conductivity given by π-π extended conjugated skeleton. Moreover, the introduced irregular structural defects are expected to promote the diffusion of oxygen. As a result, Li-O 2 battery with D-CoPPc as a catalyst achieves a high specific capacity of 4.0 mA h cm−2 at a current density of 50 μA cm−2, a remarkable rate capability with the discharge voltage reached at 2.55 V at a current density of 500 μA cm−2, and a superior cycling stability of more than 1000 h at 20 μA cm−2. As such, the presented framework tailoring and defect engineering strategy open new avenues to regulate the catalytic activity for high-performance metal–oxygen batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Molecularly-tuned hydrophilic adhesive coating (HAC) well stabilizes Zn anode. • HAC effectively suppresses dendrite and side reactions at Zn/electrolyte interface. • HAC circumvents hydrophilicity/adhesion trade-off by synergistic effect of groups. • Evenly-distributed carbonyls at molecular level facilitates uniform Zn deposition. • HAC enables extended cycle lives of Zn-Zn cell and capacitor compared to bare Zn. Artificial polymer coating on Zn metal anode is an available strategy to address a series of notorious parasitic side reactions at Zn anode/aqueous electrolyte in aqueous Zn-based electrochemical devices. However, most hydrophilic polymer layers suffer from risks of being dissolved in aqueous electrolyte during long-term cycle process. The traditional coatings with strong adhesion to metal are often hydrophobic which intensely increase the interfacial resistance at Zn electrode/aqueous electrolyte and further restrain the interfacial ion transportation/migration. In this study, a hydrophilic adhesive coating (HAC) with proportionally distributed amides and acrylates is designed to circumvent this hydrophilicity/adhesion trade-off. The layer shows great ion-regulating capability in Zn2+ plating/stripping, thanks to the evenly distributed abundant carbonyl adsorption sites at the molecular level. Benefiting from the hydrophilic nature and long-lasting adhesion of the coating to the electrode, the HAC-modified Zn-Zn symmetric cell is able to deliver a long cycle life of 880 h at 5 mA cm−2/5 mAh cm−2, compared to 20 h for Bare Zn. The Zn-Ti asymmetric cell also exhibits excellent reversibility with an average coulombic efficiency of 97.6% after 200 cycles at 5 mA cm−2. The HAC-modified Zn-AC ion hybrid supercapacitor retains 100% of the initial capacity for a long life of 14,000 cycles. This hydrophilic functionalization of hydrophobic coating provides new design strategies and prospects for Zn anode artificial interface towards practically useful zinc-ion energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The porous ZIF-8 layer was in-situ constructed on the surface of Zn anode. • The porous protective layer demonstrated uniform Zn plating/stripping behavior. • The Zn dendrites and intricate side reactions has been suppressed effectively. • The lifespan of symmetric Zn cells has been prolonged utilizing Zn@ZIF8 anode. • The ZICs with Zn@ZIF8 anode realizes 100% capacity retention after 20 000 cycles. Zinc (Zn) metal is a promising anode material for aqueous batteries. Unfortunately, undesirable issues such as dendrite growth, intricate side reactions, and limited reversibility restrict its large-scale applications. Herein, a porous ZIF-8 protecting layer is in-situ constructed on the Zn surface (named as Zn@ZIF8) to effectively manipulate the Zn plating/stripping behavior. The in-situ formation of porous ZIF-8 layer not only shows excellent bonding strength with Zn substrate but also affords low nucleation overpotential and uniform Zn2+ electrolyte flux and reduces intricate side reactions, thus leading to homogeneous Zn plating/stripping behavior. These merits enable substantially stable symmetric Zn cells and Zn-based electrochemical energy storage devices. In detail, the Zn ion capacitor based on Zn@ZIF8 anodes demonstrates superior cycling stability (∼100% capacity retention after 20 000 cycles), much better than those with bare Zn anodes. This work presents a facile and effective approach for manipulating Zn dendrites growth and realizing ultra-stable Zn-based batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-growing demand of portable and wearable electric devices requires energy storage devices with flexibility and wearable compatibility while not sacrificing the performance too much. This requires the electrode and electrolyte materials becoming robust and durable under mechanical deformations, which grants the polymers with inherent advantages. Therefore, polymers for supercapacitors, either as substrate/matrix or active materials have received prime concerns. Viewing from the requirements of the flexible and wearable supercapacitors, this review provides an essential guidance to choose and/or design the proper polymer materials for both electrode and electrolyte. More importantly, supercapacitors with additional functions that are achieved by utilizing polymer materials are also specifically highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 218 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]