Towards superior volumetric performance: design and preparation of novel carbon materials for energy storage

The volumetric performance of electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices, other than gravimetric performance, is attracting increasing attention due to the fast development of electric vehicles and smart devices. Carbon-based electrodes have advanced the fast development of EES devices while being limited by their low volumetric performance because of their porous structure and the resulting low density. This paper aims to clarify the importance of the volumetric performance and review the most recent progress in advanced EES devices with a high volumetric performance. Strategies for improving the volumetric performance, particularly with carbon-based materials, are also proposed here. The transformation of normal low-density carbons to high-density ones through the assembly of different building blocks is highlighted as a promising remedy for this issue, and their applications in next-generation EES devices (Li-S, Li-air, Na-ion, etc.) are also discussed.