Hydrogels-empowered all-in-one supercapacitors: Current insights and prospects

Abstract

Flexible and wearable electronics are poised to revolutionize various domains, but the practical implementation of these devices is hindered by the significant difficulty of energy storage devices. An effective solution can be found in the advancement of high-performance supercapacitors by developing with the qualities of being integrated, elastic, and self-healable, without requiring additional film layers. Hydrogels greatly contributed to achieving this owing to their interesting properties, conductivity, and flexibility. This short review explores the recent progressions in all-in-one supercapacitors powered by hydrogels, highlighting their functional mechanisms of self-healing, ion transmission, and synchronous deformation. We discussed the potential applications in wearable electronics, medical devices, and flexible energy storage systems, focusing on design optimization and new functionalities. Furthermore, we provide insights into future research directions, guiding the exploration of novel additives and achieving high and stable performance.