Supercapatteries: unlocking the potential of battery-supercapacitor fusion

Abstract

This review discusses the unexplored areas associated with supercapatteries to facilitate their transition from the laboratory to commercial market. The fundamentals of supercapatteries and the need for such an energy storage system are described. Particularly, we focus on the qualitative and quantitative criteria required for an energy storage system to be considered a supercapattery. Furthermore, various configurations of different electrodes and electrolytes in energy storage systems are explored to take advantage of different charge storage mechanisms. We summarize the critical studies that employ in situ and operando techniques to identify the specific charge storage mechanism in these systems and discuss the factors influencing their energy density and power density, along with strategies to improve them. Furthermore, strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat analyses are conducted to access the current status of these hybrid energy storage system. Finally, the practical, technical, and manufacturing challenges associated with combining the characteristics of supercapacitors and batteries in high-performance supercapatteries are outlined. The market potential of supercapatteries and their applications are also surveyed based on the market prospects of supercapacitors and batteries. Overall, this review explores the past, present, and future of supercapatteries.