Carbon nanotube-based materials are gaining considerable attention as novel materials for renewable energy conversion and storage. The novel optoelectronic properties of CNTs (e.g., exceptionally high surface area, thermal conductivity, electron mobility, and mechanical strength) can be advantageous for applications toward energy conversion and storage. Although many nanomaterials are well known for the unique structure-property relations, such relations have been sought most intensively from CNTs due to their extreme diversity and richness in structures. For the development of energy-related devices (like photovoltaic cells, supercapacitors, and lithium ion batteries), it is critical to conduct pre-evaluation of their design, operation, and performance in terms of cost, life time, performance, and environmental impact. This critical review was organized to address the recent developments in the use of CNT-based materials as working/counter electrodes and electrolytes in photovoltaic devices and as building blocks in next-generation flexible energy storage devices. The most promising research in the applications of CNTs toward energy conversion and storage is highlighted based on both computational and experimental studies along with the challenges for developing breakthrough products.

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碳纳米管：一种潜在的能量转换和储存材料

基于碳纳米管的材料作为可再生能源转换和存储的新型材料正受到广泛关注。CNT 的新型光电特性（例如，极高的表面积、热导率、电子迁移率和机械强度）对于能量转换和存储的应用可能是有利的。尽管许多纳米材料以独特的结构-性能关系而闻名，但由于碳纳米管的极端多样性和丰富的结构，人们对这种关系的研究最为深入。对于能源相关设备（如光伏电池、超级电容器和锂离子电池）的开发，在成本、寿命、性能和环境影响方面对其设计、操作和性能进行预评估至关重要. 组织本次批判性评论的目的是讨论使用基于 CNT 的材料作为光伏器件中的工作/反电极和电解质以及作为下一代柔性储能器件的构建块的最新发展。基于计算和实验研究以及开发突破性产品的挑战，突出了碳纳米管在能量转换和存储方面的应用中最有前途的研究。