Enhancing Energy Storage Devices with Biomacromolecules in Hybrid Electrodes

The development of energy storage devices with higher energy and power outputs, and long cycling stability is urgently required in the pursuit of the expanding challenges of electrical energy storage. The utilization of biologically renewable redox compounds holds a great potential in designing sustainable energy storage systems and contributes in reducing the dependence on fossil fuels for energy materials. Quinones are the principal redox centers in natural organic materials and play a key role as charge storage electrode materials because of their abundance, multiple forms and integration into the materials flow through the biosphere. Electrical energy storage devices and systems can be significantly improved by the combination of scalable quinone-based biomaterials with good electronic conductors. This review uses recent examples to show how biopolymers are providing new directions in the development of renewable biohybrid electrodes for energy storage devices.