A Critical Analysis about the Underestimated Role of the Electrolyte in Batteries Based on Organic Materials

Electrochemical energy storage devices based on organic materials such as polymers and organic molecules (PORMs) are nowadays regarded with increasing attention. The interest on these systems is related to their promising electrochemical performance, their low cost and their high sustainability. In the last years, several works focused on the development of active materials suitable for these systems, while much less studies have been dedicated to the electrolytes. The aim of this short review is to critically analyze these latter results, and to identify the main aspects that should be addressed in the future. Since the electrolyte is a key component of any energy storage devices, this analysis appears of particular importance for the realization of the next generation of PORM-based devices.