Integrated Photo-Rechargeable Batteries: Configurations, Design Principles, and Energy Loss Mechanisms.

Integrated photo-rechargeable batteries (IPRBs) represent an emerging device class that enables simultaneous energy conversion and storage, opening new possibilities for sustainable self-powered energy solutions. The rapid advancements in this ascendant field have led to multitudinous constructions and designs, each differing in charge storage mechanisms and carrier dynamics. In this review, these works are revisited and classified into three main types: the photoelectrochemical batteries, the all-in-one monolithic IPRBs, and the photovoltaic-battery integration, which can be further categorized by their electrochemical configurations and working principles into two-terminal, three-terminal, and four-terminal architectures. This study delves into the common issue of IPRBs, namely their energy loss mechanisms, offering a comprehensive overview of current research progress, challenges, and future research directions. This review aims to provide insights and rational guidelines for designing the next-generation high-performance IPRBs.