Recent progress and challenges in photo-supercapacitors: A critical review along with future prospects

The miniaturization trend has led to the emergence of photo-supercapacitors (P-CAP), which combine energy conversion and storage simultaneously within a single device. By leveraging photovoltaic and supercapacitor properties, researchers have achieved improved efficiency and distinct light-converting and stored functionalities. This review provides a comprehensive examination of photo-supercapacitors, encompassing their configurations, operational processes, fabrication methods, and materials, highlighting novel applications in compact, flexible wearable devices, the Internet of Everything (IoE), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Moreover, we emphasize the importance of cutting-edge materials like two-dimensional (2D) layered materials and innovative materials in photovoltaics in driving P-CAP towards a carbon-neutral and sustainable future.