Role of Graphene in Next-Generation Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems: Insights and Innovations

There is a rising demand for energy storage systems (ESS) that are both environmentally sustainable and high-performing. To meet the prerequisites of diverse energy-consuming applications, developing novel, better-quality and highly-performing electrode materials for ESS is vital. In this quest, graphene emerges as a wonder material, ascribed to its unmatched mechanical, electrical and thermal behaviour. Different ESS can be significantly developed with enhanced energy storage capacity with the application of graphene. Herein, a brief discussion of the structure and synthesis techniques for graphene and its derivatives is presented. In addition to this, the study also offers a comprehensive summary on the latest developments in lithium-ion batteries, double-layer supercapacitors, pseudo capacitors and hybrid supercapacitors using graphene as the dominant material for anode/cathode electrodes in the form of composites and hybrids. The effect of the graphene on the performance metrics of the EESS has also been imparted. Despite the promising advancements, the key challenges and limitations in the development of graphene-based high-performing energy storage devices are described in detail. The article concludes with the potential prospects of energy storage using graphene are also discussed.