Peptide-Based Assemblies for Supercapacitor Applications

The increased focus on green energy storage devices and the related rapid advancement in biomedical technologies makes the investigation of biocompatible integrated systems with medical relevance increasingly important. Peptides and their assembled morphologies with their innate biocompatibility and biodegradability are emerging as promising candidates in this respect due to their structural attributes which can be easily tuned to form supramolecular 3D architectures with extended pathways for ionic mobility. However, to comprehend their applicability in energy storage devices, it is crucial to explore their self-assembling characteristics, charge-storage mechanisms, and coating efficacies. Herein, all these aspects are compiled with specific emphasis on peptide-based systems for supercapacitor applications. The electrochemical charge storage mechanisms that are used for categorizing conventional supercapacitors with the theories and mechanisms outlining biological electron transfer, such as tunneling, hopping, superexchange, and flickering resonance, are collated. Furthermore, the characterization techniques solely pertaining to the study of such systems and their role in predicting the morphology of self-assembly patterns which could directly impact the overall electrochemical properties are also addressed. Finally, some of the critical challenges associated with these systems while realizing their future potential in the field of sustainable energy storage devices are highlighted.