Advancement of LDH-carbonaceous coupled structure towards promising water splitting and supercapacitor applications

Utilizing solar energy to drive chemical reactions for producing and storing energy via solar fuel is the ultimate way to build a sustainable future that addresses global fossil fuel requirements. In this context, designing efficient and cost-effective catalysts for H₂ production and storage via water splitting and electrochemical energy storage is crucial for achieving advanced catalytic performance. Among numerous materials, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as adaptable and efficient catalysts/co-catalysts/electrode materials in photocatalytic (PC), photoelectrochemical (PEC), electrocatalytic (EC) water splitting, and supercapacitor (SC) applications owing to their tunable transition metal cations, interlayer anions, defect formations, and robust physicochemical stability. A coupled structure of LDH‑carbonaceous materials (GO, g-C₃N₄, CNTs, and CQDs) exhibits unusual properties, including an enhanced surface area, hydrophilicity, and conductivity, which contribute to superior performance. This review focuses on recent advancements in the fabrication process of LDH‑carbonaceous hybrid towards EC, PC, PEC, and SC applications. Firstly, the characteristic features of LDH and the LDH‑carbonaceous hybrid were summarized. Then, the progress of the modification strategy elaborates on how the active carbonaceous species with LDHs alter the LDH‑carbonaceous hybrid towards enhancing overall water-splitting and storage performance for real-time applications. Further, this review summarizes the recent advancement in LDH properties through carbonaceous modification and deliberates the prospects for future advancement of energy applications.