biostudies-literatureUnknown15(5)Liu XThe development of devices with dual solar energy-harvesting and storage functionalities has recently gained significant traction for off-grid power supply. In their most compact embodiment, these devices rely on the same electrode to harvest and store energy; however, in this approach, the development of energy-efficient photoelectrodes with intrinsic characteristics of good optical and electrochemical activities remains challenging. Here, we propose photoelectrodes with a porous carbon coated on a zinc oxide-cadmium sulfide heterostructure as an energy-efficient photocathode for photo-accelerated zinc ion capacitors (Photo-ZICs). The Photo-ZICs harvest light energy and store charge simultaneously, resulting in efficient charge storage performance under illumination compared to dark conditions (∼99% capacity enhancement at 500 mA g^-1 under illumination compared to dark conditions). The light absorption ability and charge separation efficiency achieved by the photocathodes meet the requirements for photo-ZIC applications. Moreover, Photo-ZICs display stable charge storage capacities over long-term cycling, that is, ∼1% capacity loss after 10,000 cycles.ACS applied materials & interfaces6963-6969https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9923686biostudies-literaturePorous Carbon Coated on Cadmium Sulfide-Decorated Zinc Oxide Nanorod Photocathodes for Photo-accelerated Zinc Ion Capacitors.PMC9923686Liu XBoruah BDDe Volder MParkin IPAndersen HLu YWen BfalsePorous Carbon Coated on Cadmium Sulfide-Decorated Zinc Oxide Nanorod Photocathodes for Photo-accelerated Zinc Ion Capacitors.The development of devices with dual solar energy-harvesting and storage functionalities has recently gained significant traction for off-grid power supply. In their most compact embodiment, these devices rely on the same electrode to harvest and store energy; however, in this approach, the development of energy-efficient photoelectrodes with intrinsic characteristics of good optical and electrochemical activities remains challenging. Here, we propose photoelectrodes with a porous carbon coated on a zinc oxide-cadmium sulfide heterostructure as an energy-efficient photocathode for photo-accelerated zinc ion capacitors (Photo-ZICs). The Photo-ZICs harvest light energy and store charge simultaneously, resulting in efficient charge storage performance under illumination compared to dark conditions (∼99% capacity enhancement at 500 mA g^-1 under illumination compared to dark conditions). The light absorption ability and charge separation efficiency achieved by the photocathodes meet the requirements for photo-ZIC applications. Moreover, Photo-ZICs display stable charge storage capacities over long-term cycling, that is, ∼1% capacity loss after 10,000 cycles.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Feb2025-04-22T19:59:19.691Z2025-04-06T02:56:28.169ZS-EPMC99236863670616410.1021/acsami.2c20995