Photo-enhanced rechargeable high-energy-density metal batteries for solar energy conversion and storage

Solar energy is considered the most promising renewable energy source. Solar cells can harvest and convert solar energy into electrical energy, which needs to be stored as chemical energy, thereby realizing a balanced supply and demand for energy. As energy storage devices for this purpose, newly developed photo-enhanced rechargeable metal batteries, through the internal integration of photovoltaic technology and high-energy-density metal batteries in a single device, can simplify device configuration, lower costs, and reduce external energy loss. This review focuses on recent progress regarding the working principles, device architectures, and performances of various closed-type and open-type photo-enhanced rechargeable devices based on metal batteries, including Li/Zn-ion, Li-S, and Li/Zn-I₂, and Li/Zn-O₂/air, Li-CO₂, and Na-O₂ batteries. In addition to provide a fundamental understanding of photo-enhanced rechargeable devices, key challenges and possible strategies are also discussed. Finally, some perspectives are provided for further enhancing the overall performance of the proposed devices.