Solvent-Mediated Synthesis of Functional Powder Materials from Deep Eutectic Solvents for Energy Storage and Conversion: A Review

Abstract

Developing advanced electrochemical energy storage and conversion (ESC) technologies based on renewable clean energy can alleviate severe global environmental pollution and energy crisis. The efficient preparation of functional electrode materials via a simple, green, and safe synthesis process is the key to the commercial feasibility of these ESC systems. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) with easy-tunable solvent properties and recyclable features have emerged as novel solvent systems for designing and synthesizing various functional powder materials for ESC devices. In this paper, the application of DESs in the synthesis of energy-related functional powder materials is systematically reviewed. After briefly introducing the classification and synthesis of DESs, their critical roles in synthesizing powder materials are discussed. Then, the recent advances of DES-derived powder materials in ESC, including batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and water splitting, are described in detail from the perspective of preparation-structure-activity. Finally, some challenges and development directions of the DESs-mediated synthesis of powder materials with high electrochemical performance for ESC applications are outlined.