In virtue of the excellent mechanical performance

high specific strength and specific modulus

light weight

electrical conductivity and good thermal/chemical stability

carbon fibers (CFs) and carbon fiber reinforced composites have been utilized as high performance structural materials in aircraft

aerospace

construction

transportation

biomedical devices

sporting goods and electrical-related application fields over half a century. During the past two decades

benefiting from the rapid development of nanomaterials

nanotechnology and efficient renewable energy devices

CFs (e. g. commercial carbon fibers

carbon fiber fabrics

carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotube fibers

etc. ) with exceptional mechanical properties have been extensively adopted and investigated as alternative electrode materials in a variety of electrochemical and photoelectrical conversion devices due to their advantages of good conductivity

electrochemical properties

porosity and surface modifications. For the first time

this study reviewed the research development of current CF-based energy devices. With an understanding of the development history and applications of CFs

several fundamental knowledge about the CF surface functionalization and electrode preparation were introduced. Then

this work overviewed the recent progress on CF-based energy devices

with a focus on the research development and applications of carbon fibers as functional electrode materials for fuel cells

microbial fuel cell

lithium ion batteries

electrochemical capacitors and solar cells. Finally

through the summary of the state-of-the-art CF-based energy devices

predictions and insights into the challenges and the future development trends on the material preparations

electrode design

optimization of device performances and device integration technologies were proposed.