Demystifying the influence of design parameters of nature-inspired materials for supercapacitors

Currently, clean and sustainable electrical energy stands as the next greatest challenge for mankind. Despite substantial advancements in clean energy production, it is imperative to prioritize the development of practical energy storage technologies that align with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). However, the existing battery and energy storage technologies rely largely on rare metals and cannot support the large production demands of society. Therefore, developing sustainable energy storage technology is currently a top scientific priority due to its critical importance. In this context, several nature-derived/inspired energy storage materials from plants, microbes, animal bodies, biomass, and natural minerals have received substantial attention due to their ease of fabrication, economic feasibility, and sustainability. Nevertheless, still there are some decent complexities associated while deriving nature-inspired materials through several biomimetic, activation, and carbonization methods. In this regard, the current review paper aims to describe the comprehensive concepts, characteristics, bio-mimetic synthesis strategies, and energy storage applications of numerous nature-inspired materials. In particular, special emphasis has been given to the storage performance, mechanism, and electrochemical profile assessment. Alongside this, various notions on nature-inspired design templates are discussed together with their mechano-biological perspectives and opportunities for further development.