Wastewater as a photoelectrochemical fuel source: Light-to-electrical energy conversion with organochloride remediation

A photogalvanic cell that employs 2,4-dichlorophenol as a fuel source, an N-substituted phenothiazine as light harvester, and sacrificial zinc anode is presented, and shown to afford a ca. 4% light-to-electrical power conversion efficiency in violet light.

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► Mediator photoexcitation can cleave C-Cl bond in chlorophenols.
► First non-biological route of electricity generation with chlorophenol remediation.
► Use of sacrificial anode allows for high OCV in a photogalvanic cell.