Advances in Photo‐Supercapacitors: From Materials to Applications

Abstract As the global demand for energy continues to rise, the heavy reliance on fossil fuels presents significant challenges, including resource depletion and increased environmental pollution. A shift toward sustainable alternatives, particularly solar energy, is essential for ensuring a cleaner, greener future. Solar energy stands out as a pollution‐free solution, but the development of systems that integrate solar energy harvesting into a singular device remains a critical challenge. Recent advancements in photo‐supercapacitors, which merge solar energy conversion and storage, offer promising solutions. This paper reviews the key factors influencing the performance and efficiency of these devices, showcasing the progress made in improving their flexibility and effectiveness. Photo‐powered energy storage devices are attracting significant attention for their potential applications in smart electronics and as practical alternatives to conventional power sources. Among these, both planar and flexible photo‐supercapacitors stand out due to their simple fabrication process, cost‐effectiveness, and superior flexibility in multiple directions. Over the past decade, numerous integrated devices, particularly those combining solar cells and supercapacitors, have shown excellent photo‐conversion and storage capabilities, demonstrating potential as next‐generation power sources. This evaluation offers an in‐depth summary of the design, mechanisms, and manufacturing techniques of different photo‐powered supercapacitors, while also examining future paths, prospects, and obstacles in this evolving research area.