Energies, Vol. 18, Pages 5618: Agar-Based Composites in Sustainable Energy Storage: A Comprehensive Review

Energies, Vol. 18, Pages 5618: Agar-Based Composites in Sustainable Energy Storage: A Comprehensive Review

Energies doi: 10.3390/en18215618

Authors:
Zeenat Akhter
Sultan Ullah
Arvydas Palevicius
Giedrius Janusas

The shift towards renewable resources has positioned agar, a natural seaweed polysaccharide, as a pivotal and sustainable material for developing next-generation energy storage technologies. This review highlights the transformative role of agar-based composites as a game-changing and eco-friendly platform for supercapacitors, batteries, and fuel cells. Moving beyond the traditional synthetic polymers, agar introduces a novel paradigm by leveraging its natural gelation, superior film-forming ability, and inherent ionic conductivity to create advanced electrolytes, binders, and matrices. The novelty of this field lies in the strategic fabrication of synergistic composites with polymers, metal oxides, and carbon materials, engineered through innovative techniques like electrospinning, solvent casting, crosslinking, 3D printing, and freeze-drying. We critically examine how these innovative composites are breaking new ground in enhancing device efficacy, flexibility, and thermal stability. Ultimately, this analysis not only consolidates the current landscape but also charts future pathways, positioning agar-based materials as a pivotal and sustainable solution for powering the future.