Rezić Meštrović Iva, Somogyi Škoc Maja
Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Department of Materials, Fibers and Textile Testing, Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Polymers (Basel). 2025 May 23;17(11):1456. doi: 10.3390/polym17111456.
Nanofibers have emerged as transformative materials in the field of energy storage, offering unique physicochemical properties such as high surface area, porosity, and tunable morphology. Recent advancements have also introduced genetically modified fibers-engineered at the biological level to produce functionalized nanostructures with customizable properties. These bioengineered nanofibers add a sustainable and potentially self-healing component to energy storage materials. This paper reviews key applications of conventional and genetically modified nanofibers in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, hybrid systems, and flexible energy storage with a focus on how genetic and molecular engineering of fibrous materials enables new capabilities in ion transport, electrode architecture, and device longevity. Together, these advances contribute to the development of next-generation energy storage systems with enhanced performance, biocompatibility, and sustainability. This review therefore critically examines the current state, advantages, and limitations of both synthetic and biopolymer-based materials in energy storage applications. It discusses recent technological innovations, such as polymer-nanoparticle composites, functionalized polymer matrices, and next-generation polymer electrolytes. Future research should prioritize enhancing conductivity, improving scalability, and reducing environmental impact, ensuring that polymer-based materials contribute to the development of more efficient and sustainable energy storage technologies.
纳米纤维已成为储能领域具有变革性的材料，具有诸如高表面积、孔隙率和可调控形态等独特的物理化学性质。最近的进展还引入了在生物层面进行工程改造的基因改性纤维，以生产具有可定制特性的功能化纳米结构。这些生物工程纳米纤维为储能材料增添了可持续且可能具备自愈能力的成分。本文综述了传统纳米纤维和基因改性纳米纤维在锂离子电池、钠离子电池、超级电容器、混合系统以及柔性储能方面的关键应用，重点关注纤维材料的基因和分子工程如何在离子传输、电极结构和器件寿命方面实现新的性能。这些进展共同推动了具有更高性能、生物相容性和可持续性的下一代储能系统的发展。因此，本综述批判性地审视了合成材料和生物聚合物基材料在储能应用中的现状、优势和局限性。它讨论了最近的技术创新，如聚合物 - 纳米颗粒复合材料、功能化聚合物基体和下一代聚合物电解质。未来的研究应优先提高导电性、改善可扩展性并减少环境影响，确保聚合物基材料有助于开发更高效和可持续的储能技术。
