Exploring the Potential of Natural Rubber as Electrolytes and Electrodes for Advanced Energy Storage Applications

Amid the search for alternatives to petrochemical-based polymers and growing concern for environmental sustainability, natural polymers have gained significant attention. These polymers have potential applications in household appliances to advanced energy systems and offer a way to address the depletion and sustainability challenges associated with synthetic polymers. One such natural source of polymer is natural rubber (NR), which has been developed as a highly performing material in electrodes and electrolytes. Nowadays, researchers are more interested in NR due to its sustainability, affordability, elastomeric properties, and low glass transition temperature. This article presents a comprehensive exploration of NR characteristics, delving into its elasticity, glass transition temperature, and an extensive evaluation of its potential as a hydrogel electrolyte. Furthermore, this investigation showcases NR's capability to mitigate potential long-term consequences of synthetic materials. Given NR's inherent insulating nature, a meticulous analysis of the interplay between NR composites and their electrical properties within electrodes is prompted. This article provides a review of past research, growth and development, and prospects of NR and its derivatives as in applications including electrochemical energy storage, energy harvesting, wastewater treatment, and slow-release fertilizers. Moreover, the study briefly underscores the importance of NR while acknowledging its limitations. Herein, the incorporation of natural rubber (NR) and derivatives into creative energy storage materials is investigated. Aspects including epoxidized NR, grafted NR, NR-based polymer blends, and deproteinized NR for electrolytes are explored. Traits like ecofriendliness, elasticity, and low glass transition temperature are explained. Insights into NR's uses in energy harvesting, wastewater treatment, and slow-release fertilizers are also provided.image & COPY; 2023 WILEY-VCH GmbH

Automated summary

Amid the search for alternatives to petrochemical-based polymers, natural polymers, particularly natural rubber (NR), have gained significant attention due to their sustainability, affordability, elastomeric properties, and low glass transition temperature. This comprehensive exploration of NR characteristics delves into its potential as a hydrogel electrolyte and showcases its ability to mitigate potential long-term consequences of synthetic materials. The study also reviews past research, growth and development, and prospects of NR and its derivatives in various applications, highlighting its importance while acknowledging its limitations.