Battery-based energy storage is one of the most significant and effective methods for storing electrical energy. The optimum mix of efficiency, cost, and flexibility is provided by the electrochemical energy storage device, which has become indispensable to modern living.
Solar batteries present an emerging class of devices which enable simultaneous energy conversion and energy storage in one single device. This high level of integration enables new energy storage concepts ranging from short-term solar energy buffers to light-enhanced batteries, thus opening up exciting vistas for decentralized energy storage.
Battery storage can help with frequency stability and control for short-term needs, and they can help with energy management or reserves for long-term needs. Storage can be employed in addition to primary generation since it allows for the production of energy during off-peak hours, which can then be stored as reserve power.
The ever-increasing demand for electricity can be met while balancing supply changes with the use of robust energy storage devices. Battery storage can help with frequency stability and control for short-term needs, and they can help with energy management or reserves for long-term needs.
The first groundbreaking solar battery concept of combined solar energy harvesting and storage was investigated in 1976 by Hodes, Manassen, and Cahen, consisting of a Cd–Se polycrystalline chalcogenide photoanode, capable of light absorption and photogenerated electron transfer to the S 2– /S redox couple in the electrolyte.
Light is utilized by solar batteries to improve overall energy efficiency by reducing either the required charging current (current efficient charging, IEC) or charging voltage (voltage efficient charging, VEC).