Bio-PEC: A Two Bird One Stone Solution

Source: Yue Du et al. 2014

Photoelectrochemical cells, also known as solar cells, harness solar energy in hydrogen which can then be converted into electricity. This already revolutionary environmental process has been tweaked to offer an additional environmental benefit. When a biocathode consisting of an algae (Chorella vulgaris) was linked to a photochemical cell anode, the result was biodegradation of a model pollutant and simultaneous generation of electricity. By coupling photoelectrochemical cells with biocathodes (microbial-catalyzed cathodes containing electrochemically active, self-sustaining microbial strains) the potential of biofuel production, environmental remediation, and reduction of carbon dioxide emission becomes possible and an innovative cost efficient pathway to sustainability (Yue D. et al. 2014)


Reference
Yue D., Yujie F., Youpeng Q., Jia L., Nanqu R., Hong L. 2014. Electricity generation and pollutant degradation using a novel biocathode coupled photoelectrochemical cell. Environ. Sci. Technol., 48:7634-7641.