Supercapacitors: Overcoming current limitations and charting the course for next-generation energy storage

Supercapacitors, bridging conventional capacitors and batteries, promise efficient energy storage. Yet, challenges hamper widespread adoption. This review assesses energy density limits, costs, materials, and scalability barriers. It examines key factors affecting energy density: electrode properties, pseudocapacitive mechanisms, voltage windows, and electrolytes. Cost considerations encompass materials, manufacturing processes, and scaling challenges, emphasizing the need for cost-effective solutions. The review scrutinizes intricate materials and manufacturing hurdles, including electrode design, electrolyte formulation, and scalable fabrication techniques. Recent advances in novel electrode materials, designs, recycling methods, and fabrication technologies are highlighted. Integration with emerging technologies like 3D printing suggests transformative potential for energy storage. By outlining challenges and recent progress, this review charts a path toward efficient, economical, and scalable supercapacitor technology for next-generation energy systems.